As colourful lanterns of all shapes and sizes shed their mellow glow everywhere, Hong Kong celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival.  Also known as the Moon Festival, it falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar. A joyful time when friends, family and lovers gather to enjoy good company, lighting lanterns, and gazing at the silver moon now looming large in the night sky over Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels has joined hands with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to bring Hong Kong gastronomy to the Asia Street Market at the 5th Lyon Street Food Festival.  Visitors could try authentic Hong Kong delights prepared by two local Chinese restaurants at the Festival. They could also take part in cultural activities related to Hong Kong such as martial arts or cooking workshops.  The Lyon Street Food Festival welcomed more than 30 000 visitors in 2019.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) held a business seminar in Bisceglie in the Apulia region of south Italy on 10 September with the support of Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.   The annual business seminar in the margins of the Salento International Film Festival is an opportunity to reach out to local entrepreneurs and to promote Hong Kong's Talent List and the career opportunities the city offers to professionals.  HKETO, Brussels also supported a Hong Kong film event at the Salento International Film Festival.

The completion of the pavement of the Third Runway to be commissioned in 2022 marks a mayor milestone for Hong Kong International Airport's Three-Runway System (3RS) project.  Other works, including the expansion of Terminal 2 (T2), construction of the T2 Concourse, a new automated people mover system and high-speed baggage handling system will be completed in 2024.  After its expansion, the airport will be able to handle an annual passenger and cargo volume of around 120 million and 10 million tonnes respectively, enabling Hong Kong to enhance its status as an international aviation hub. More information.

M+, Asia's first global museum of contemporary visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong, will open to the public on 12 November 2021.  Around 1 500 works drawn from the M+ collections of visual art, design and architecture, and moving image from Hong Kong, Greater China, Asia, and beyond will be presented in the 17 000 square-metre exhibition space that spans across 33 galleries and other display spaces in the museum. Designed by a global team of Herzog & de Meuron in partnership with TFP Farrells and Arup, the 65 000-square-metre M+ building is among Hong Kong's most iconic landmarks. More information.

With the support of the Portugal-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels and Invest Hong Kong hosted a reception for the local business community and government officials, to strengthen economic ties.  Hong Kong's role as the gateway to tap business opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was highlighted, as was the city's vibrant innovation and technology community and the Government's supporting policies which make Hong Kong the perfect testing ground for international business collaboration and for start-ups. Hong Kong's rich cultural life also makes it an attractive place to live, to work and to study.

Four Hong Kong films will be screened during the 18th Salento International Film Festival held at Politeama Italia, Via Montello 2, Bisceglie.  They are Herman Yau's Shock Wave 2, and Wong Kar-wai's Happy Together, In the Mood for Love and Chungking Express.  The annual Hong Kong Business Meeting will be held at 5.30pm on Friday 17 September for companies interested in exploring the opportunities offered by Hong Kong as an ideal platform to enter Asian markets.  Registration is free but compulsory. 

On 17 August 2021, our Head of Office, Mr Eddie Cheung (right), received Singaporean Ambassador to the Benelux and the European Union, Mr Lim Hong-huai (left), at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels.  Both exchanged views on a range of issues of common interest, including global efforts to tackle climate change.  Mr Cheung presented Ambassador Lim with a souvenir pack of Hong Kong special stamps, "Bruce Lee's Legacy of World of Martial Arts", as a token of friendship.

From 9 August 2021, Hong Kong residents, as well as fully vaccinated non-Hong Kong residents who have not stayed in specified high-risk places during the 21 days before the day of boarding for/arrival at Hong Kong, may enter Hong Kong, subject to the fulfillment of relevant boarding requirements and compliance with quarantine measures after arrival.  More information.

A total of 14 Hong Kong films will be screened in this year's Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine, with the support of HKETO, Brussels, CreateHK and the Hong Kong International Film Society.  Eight of the films will be presented under the Hong Kong New Talents Programme, giving viewers a glimpse of the creativity of the new generation of Hong Kong filmmakers. The FEFF this year is organised in a hybrid format with films in theatres and online, some of which can be viewed outside Italy. More information. 

The Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021 was introduced into the Legislative Council on 14 April 2021.  Find a clear, concise layman's guide to Hong Kong's new electoral system here. 

"Hong Kong is an ideal platform for Edtech companies. The city offers a world-class business environment, unmatched financial and operational support and excellent technical infrastructures to support innovation and business on a global scale." Learn all the details in our WEBINAR  EdTech in HK: Join the education revolution in Asia, at 10.00am CET on 21 April, organized by InvestHK and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in Brussels, Berlin and London.   

In light of Hong Kong's pledge to strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, discussed prospects for European technology in contributing to a greener and carbon-neutral Hong Kong during a webinar on 19 March 2021 with more than 170 entrepreneurs and business executives from different European countries. More information.

The National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on 11 March 2011 adopted a decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.  See details here.

The global art market, like every other industry, was greatly impacted by COVID-19 in 2020. Art fairs and auctions were cancelled, and artists and galleries saw sales decline. Hong Kong's art market and scene, however, remains remarkably resilient. With its dynamic art ecosystem, the city has maintained its position as Asia's art capital. See here how Hong Kong's art market and cultural scene not just survived, but thrived amidst the pandemic, as explained by art industry players. 

If you would like to know how to tap the green business opportunities in Hong Kong for European companies, don't miss this webinar at 10:00-11:00 on Friday 19 March 2021. Speakers will be Mr WONG Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR Government, who will introduce the first road map of Hong Kong on the popularisation of EVs, as well as the recent Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035. Two speakers will share their experiences in setting up state-of-the-art waste-to-energy/resources facilities in Hong Kong: Mr Ivan CHRISTIAENS, General Manager of Keppel Seghers Belgium NV, and Dr Axel SCHWEITZER, Chief Executive Officer of ALBA Group plc & Co. KG.  Sign up and send in your questions.  More information.

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mrs Carrie Lam, highlighted Hong Kong's unique advantages for doing business and shared prospects for overseas firms establishing in Hong Kong during an online dialogue with more than 700 entrepreneurs and business executives from different corners of continental Europe. Mrs Lam was joined by Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing; and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui.   More information and video.

Our latest newsletter highlights the key initiatives and measures which support Hong Kong to not only whether the unprecedented challenges, but also strive ahead with renewed perseverance.  We are also happy to present in the newsletter multi-faceted achievements of Hong Kong which showcase that the city is an international metropolis full of vibrancy, vitality, diversity and opportunities. 

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mrs Carrie Lam, delivered her annual Policy Address on 25 November 2020.  The HKSAR will strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.  There are other measures to facilitate business to access the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) through Hong Kong.  More information.

Hong Kong was ranked fifth in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) 28 Report published by Z/Yen (United Kingdom) and the China Development Institute (Shenzhen).   Hong Kong is one of the top five leading financial centres in the world, rising by one place from the March issue of the index this year.  More information.

Mr Thomas Gnocchi (right) will take up the post as the Head of EU Office to Hong Kong and Macao in early September 2020.  Before Mr Gnocchi's departure for Hong Kong, Mr Eddie Cheung (left), the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, received him at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels.  Mr Cheung presented a souvenir to Mr Gnocchi, wishing him settling well in Hong Kong and looking forward to working closely with him to further the close ties between Hong Kong and the EU.

Due to the special measures announced by the Belgian government to halt the spread of coronavirus, most of the staff of this office are working from home.  We will try our best to respond to enquiries as soon as possible but there could be a certain delay due to the special circumstances.  We appreciate your kind understanding.

A new cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Pilot Scheme is set to boost the financial services industry in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and reinforce Hong Kong's role as the leading offshore Renminbi hub. It will become the fourth cross-boundary investment channel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, after those links in the stock and bond markets. It will also be the first scheme focussing on the GBA.  Press Release.