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The Asian Film Festival Barcelona is celebrating its 8th anniversary this year.  With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels and CreateHK, it will screen seven Hong Kong films: Witness out of the Blue by Fung Chih Chiang, Beyond the Dream by Kiwi Chow, Distinction by Jevons Au, I Still Remember by Lik Ho, Lion Rock by Nick Leung, My Prince Edward by Norris Wong and The Secret Diary of a Mom to be by Luk Yee Sum.   More information.

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.

The Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress made on 11 November 2020 regarding the qualification of members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has provided clear guidance on the legal consequence of a LegCo member's failure to comply with the legal requirements of "upholding the Basic Law of the HKSAR of the People's Republic of China (PRC)" and "swearing allegiance to the HKSAR of the PRC". It helps ensure the resolute and faithful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems". The HKSAR Government fully recognises that the rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, and is determined to safeguard this core value at all times. For details, please see relevant HKSAR Government's response.

Another day, another Webinar... this time about a cool and funky topic: "the Business of (E) Sports in HK and Mainland China".  Come and learn more about Hong Kong's thrilling sports landscape and its strategic location to connect the gaming industry players in the East and the West. More info.

Hong Kong will place Belgium on its specified high-risk list, in response to the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in Belgium, with effect from 3 November 2020 until further notice. This will increase the number of specified high-risk countries to a total of 14.  Hong Kong residents arriving from, or who have stayed in these 14 specified high-risk countries 14 days before boarding a flight to Hong Kong, are subject to additional anti-COVID-19 travel restrictions. They include providing a negative COVID-19 test result from an approved laboratory and confirmed hotel booking in Hong Kong for the compulsory 14-day quarantine period. Please note that with effect from March 25, 2020 until further notice, all non-Hong Kong residents coming from overseas countries and regions by plane will be denied entry to Hong Kong. More information. Please also visit Hong Kong's COVID-19 webpage, and Hong Kong Update webpage

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels and CreateHK are supporting the 53rd edition of the International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia in Sitges, Spain. Five Hong Kong classic films will be screened, including three from the 1990s - Billy Chung's Brother of Darkness and Love to Kill, and Herman Yau's Ebola Syndrome. The other two films are from the 1970s, Wei Lo's Fist of Fury and Law Kei's The Dragon Lives Again.  The Festival screens films related to the fantastic genre, including action and adventure movies and black comedy, with a special emphasis on thrillers.  More information

With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels and Create Hong Kong, movie lovers in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, will get the chance to enjoy several realistic films produced by famous Hong Kong film director Fruit Chan at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF).  This year's TIFF will screen four of his works on 11-14 November, namely Little Cheung, Dumplings, The Midnight After and Made in Hong Kong.   More information

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The Yearbook "Hong Kong 2019" is now available online. The Yearbook contains a wealth of facts and figures about Hong Kong, including its constitution and legal system, the economy, commerce and industry, innovation and technology, health, housing and transport, among many other topics. There are also 10 colour photo sections comprising about 90 pictures of events, people and places which showcase the vibrancy and diversity of Hong Kong

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.

Hong Kong's strategic location at the heart of Asia, its world-class transportation infrastructure and highly efficient logistics network, as well as its highly competitive business environment, are fundamental strengths of Hong Kong as a premier sourcing hub. To learn more, watch the webinar co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, Invest Hong Kong and the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association entitled "Your Purchase Centre in Hong Kong" on 16 September here. 

The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Paul Chan, attended a webinar entitled "How Hong Kong continues to be a gateway to China" on 22 September to reaffirm to European entrepreneurs that Hong Kong continues to be the unique business bridge between the Mainland and the rest of the world. More information.

Hong Kong retained its No.1 ranking in the Economic Freedom of the World 2020 Annual Report by the Canada-based Fraser Institute, with the city rated top in two of the five categories, namely "Freedom to Trade Internationally" and "Regulation". The Hong Kong SAR Government welcomed the report as clear recognition of the city's commitment to building a free economy with a level playing field. More information.

Hong Kong action movies were in the spotlight at the 17th edition of the Salento International Film Festival in Tricase, in the Salento peninsula of Southern Italy.  The Festival's Hong Kong Cinema programme comprised Yuen Woo-ping's Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy, Wilson Yip's Ip Man 4: The Finale as well as Danny Pang's and Oxide Pang's Out of Inferno. A business seminar was also held on 1 September.   More info.

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.

Hong Kong film director Ann Hui, who first came to the attention to European audiences with her 1982 film, Boat People, will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award at the 77th Venice International Film Festival in September.  She is the first Chinese female film director to be bestowed the honour.  Best known for her films about social issues, her work covers many other categories.  

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.

Mr Eddie Cheung, the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the EU, and Mr Han van Midden, the Mayor of Roosendaal, the Netherlands, elbow bumped and exchanged souvenirs at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels. They exchanged best wishes for the people of Hong Kong and Roosendaal, hoping things will be back to a "new normal" soon after COVID-19 pandemic.  More.

Hong Kong's museum of 20th and 21st century visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District has announced that Hong Kong-based artist Samson Young is the winner of the inaugural Sigg Prize (formerly the Chinese Contemporary Art Award).  The jury was impressed by his vivid, multifaceted approach to sound and performance.  More info.

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has raised concerns worldwide. For details of the prevention measures being implemented in Hong Kong, as well as the latest situation of novel coronavirus infection in Hong Kong, please visit the website Centre for Health Protection of the Hong Kong Department of Health.

In this issue: Financial Secretary in Luxembourg for AIIB meeting - Greater Bay Area Development - Reopening of Hong Kong Museum of Art - Chief Executive's Policy Adddress - Fourth Belt and Road Summit - Business Events - Hong Kong films at seven international festivals in Europe - New Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the EU...

In recent months, protests in Hong Kong have made the headlines and have caused some inconvenience to visitors. This online portal puts the facts at your fingertips, covering transportation advice, clarifications of fake news, government press releases, conferences and events and more.