The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) has concluded a month of celebrations to mark the start of the Year of the Rabbit. For the finale of the celebration, HKETO, Brussels hosted two Chinese New Year receptions this week, respectively in Italy's financial and business centre, Milan (February 6), and Portugal's second biggest city, Porto (February 9). 

     The Chinese New Year receptions in Milan and Porto were the first receptions held in those countries in-person since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

     Officiating at the Chinese New Year receptions, the Acting Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Grace Li, highlighted the launching of the "Hello Hong Kong" campaign and invited guests to visit Hong Kong and experience the vibrant Hong Kong culture in person.

     "Hong Kong resumed holding international sporting and business events since last November, including the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit, the Hong Kong Sevens, and the Asian Financial Forum, and many more to come," Miss Li said. 

     Apart from highlighting the top class mega events to be held in the city, Miss Li also emphasised the setting up of the dedicated office in Hong Kong and the implementation of various facilitation measures that would make it even easier for enterprises and talents from around the world to settle in Hong Kong.

     HKETO, Brussels took the opportunity to showcase Hong Kong's unique East-meet-West culture by bringing different musical performances to the receptions. In Porto, the programme combined tradition, modernity, and Chinese and Western musical instruments with performance of a trio of erhu, percussion and piano, followed by a performance of oboe.

     The receptions were hosted in co-operation with partners, including Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Italy-Hong Kong Association and the Portugal-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

     Guests included officials from national and local governments, financial and business sectors, academia, cultural and creative sectors, media and the Chinese (including Hong Kong) community.

     HKETO, Brussels had also hosted Chinese New Year receptions in Luxembourg (January 19), The Hague, the Netherlands (January 25), Brussels, Belgium (January 31) and Paris, France (February 2).

Ends/Saturday, February 11, 2023
Issued at HKT 8:55

NNNN