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London ETO soars into Year of Dragon with festive jubilations (with photos)
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     ​The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) greeted the Year of the Dragon in the United Kingdom (UK) by hosting a festive reception in London on February 13 (London time) and supporting a large-scale London Chinatown celebration at Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and Charing Cross Road on February 11.
 
     The Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, welcomed over 500 guests at the Year of the Dragon reception on February 13 at Banqueting House, Whitehall, in London. Amongst the guests were UK government officials, parliamentarians, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Ms Patricia McAllister, mayors from London boroughs, senior diplomats, leading figures in the business sector, academics, media representatives and members of the Chinese community.
 
     Speaking at the reception, Mr Law introduced the latest developments of Hong Kong on its economic and cultural fronts. Quoting promising trade figures, he highlighted the close economic ties between Hong Kong and the UK, and highlighted that Hong Kong not only is the second largest trading partner of the UK in Asia, but is also home to over 640 British companies.
 
     Mr Law elaborated that, "With Hong Kong's distinctive advantages under 'one country, two systems,' Hong Kong will surely, like the dragon soaring to new heights, continue to prosper and thrive as a global business hub. On attracting enterprises, the measures launched by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government have generated positive results. Last year, over 380 companies set up or expanded their businesses in Hong Kong, including 48 from the UK as our second most significant contributor, just after Mainland China.
 
     "Over the past year, Hong Kong welcomed over 34 million visitors. While anticipating the full recovery of its flight connection capacity this year, we will stage over 80 mega events in the city in the first half of the year alone, including Art Basel in March and the Hong Kong Sevens in April," he added, while inviting the guests to visit Hong Kong.
 
     The reception featured a contemporary lion dance performance by Hong Kong performance art group TS Crew; an a capella performance by The Mockingbird, formed by a group of Hong Kong students studying in the UK; and a traditional dragon dance.
 
     On February 11, the London ETO supported the grand annual Chinese New Year celebration in London's Chinatown, drawing audiences of hundreds in places and thousands in other locations along the streets of Central London. Mr Law, alongside esteemed guests such as Ms Patricia McAllister; the Chairman of the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA), Mr Tang Chu-ting; and the President of the LCCA, Mr Peter Lam, joined the festive parade. The guests greeted the crowds in London from an open-air double decker bus. Additionally, a variety of cultural and music performances were staged at Trafalgar Square.
 
     The London ETO will organise further events to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in the countries under its purview in the coming weeks.
 
Ends/Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Issued at HKT 21:34
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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) greeted the Year of the Dragon in the United Kingdom by hosting a celebratory reception at Banqueting House, Whitehall, in London on February 13 (London time). Photo shows the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, delivering a speech at the reception.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) greeted the Year of the Dragon in the United Kingdom (UK) by hosting a celebratory reception at Banqueting House, Whitehall, in London on February 13 (London time). Photo shows officiating guests (from left) on behalf of the Director of UK, Nordics & Ireland of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Candy Kwong; Deputy Director-General of the London ETO Mr York Ip; the Director for UK and Northern Europe at the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Ms Anette Wendel-Menke; the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law; the Minister and First Staff Member, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the UK, Mr Yang Xiaoguang; the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of InvestHK London Office, Ms Daisy Ip; Deputy Director-General of London ETO Ms Amy Wong and the Marine Adviser of the Marine Department’s Regional Desk (London) /Regional Head (London) of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry, Mr Ben Lau, officiating at the toasting ceremony.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) greeted the Year of the Dragon in the United Kingdom by hosting a celebratory reception at Banqueting House, Whitehall, in London on February 13 (London time). Photo shows the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, and the Minister and First Staff Member, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the UK, Mr Yang Xiaoguang, officiating the eye-dotting ceremony for the dragon dance at the reception.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) greeted the Year of the Dragon in the United Kingdom by hosting a celebratory reception at Banqueting House, Whitehall, in London on February 13 (London time). Photo shows the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law (fifth right), and Minister and First Staff Member, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the UK, Mr Yang Xiaoguang (sixth right), and some guests with the dragon dance team at the reception.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London greeted the Year of the Dragon in the United Kingdom by hosting a celebratory reception at Banqueting House, Whitehall, in London on February 13 (London time). Photo shows the dragon dance performance at the reception.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London greeted the Year of the Dragon in the United Kingdom by hosting a celebratory reception at Banqueting House, Whitehall, in London on February 13 (London time). Photo shows the Hong Kong contemporary lion dance group TS Crew performing at the reception.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London greeted the Year of the Dragon in the United Kingdom by hosting a celebratory reception at Banqueting House, Whitehall, in London on February 13 (London time). Photo shows the a capella group The Mockingbird performing at the reception.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London greeted the Year of the Dragon in the United Kingdom by hosting a celebratory reception at Banqueting House, Whitehall, in London on February 13 (London time). The reception was attended by around 500 guests.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) participated in a large-scale London Chinatown celebration in Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and Charing Cross Road on February 11 (London time). Photo shows (from sixth right) Councillor of Westminster Mr Robert Eagleton; the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law; the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Ms Patricia McAllister; the Chair of the UK-China Business Development Center, Mr John Mclean, and other guests greeting the crowd in London from an open-air double decker bus in the celebration parade.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) participated in a large-scale London Chinatown celebration in Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and Charing Cross Road on February 11 (London time). Photo shows (from left) the President of the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA), Mr Peter Lam; the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law; the Chairman of the LCCA, Mr Tang Chu-ting; Councillor of Westminster Mr Robert Eagleton; the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Ms Patricia McAllister; the Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mr Zheng Zeguang; the Mayor of London, Mr Sadiq Khan, and other guests at the celebration.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) participated in a large-scale London Chinatown celebration in Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and Charing Cross Road on February 11 (London time). Photo shows the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, taking part in the eye-dotting ceremony for the lion dance performance.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) participated in a large-scale London Chinatown celebration in Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and Charing Cross Road on February 11 (London time). Photo shows the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law (right), and the Mayor of London, Mr Sadiq Khan (left), at the celebration.