Hong Kong’s SCED Leads Business Delegation to Malaysia for Economic Expansion Opportunities

SCED to lead business delegation to visit Malaysia

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED), Mr Algernon Yau, will lead a business delegation to depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, tomorrow afternoon (August 10) to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages and assist Mainland enterprises in gaining a better understanding of the latest developments in Malaysia for business expansion.

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This is one of the outbound missions organised by the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global steered by the SCED. It aims to enable Mainland enterprises planning to go global to understand the situation and needs of overseas markets.Members of the delegation include representatives from Mainland enterprises and Hong Kong chambers of commerce and other organisations.The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, and the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, will also join.

The delegation will attend the Think Business, Think Hong Kong Symposium organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the business seminar cum networking lunch organised by Invest Hong Kong. It will also conduct company visits and have exchange sessions with local chambers of commerce and related institutions. In addition, Mr Yau will attend the official opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Kuala Lumpur.

Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on August 13. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting SCED.

New York ETO promotes Hong Kong’s vibrant culture at dragon boat festival

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (New York ETO) continues to support the 36th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY), a role it has held since founding the festival in 1990.

This year’s festival marks the 40th anniversary of Hong Kong’s gift of teak wood dragon boats to citiesacross North America, including New York City, introducing this centuries-old Chinese tradition to the continent. This legacy takes centre stage this weekend with a special invitational race to commemorate the anniversary, alongside a display of the traditional teak wood dragon boats for visitors throughout the weekend.

At the festival opening ceremony on August 8 (New York time), the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, reflected on this legacy and how the HKDBF-NY, one of New York City’s largest multicultural festivals, has brought people together for 36 years, proving that sport has a unique power to connect and unite people.

Ms Ho said the festival is a celebration of heritage, resilience and teamwork, noting that the vigour, determination and camaraderie shown by the competing athletes reflect the same qualities that define Hong Kong – a cosmopolitan and vibrant gateway city that connects business, talent and ideas, while remaining firmly rooted in its cultural heritage.

Ms Ho added that the festival is a testament to the enduring friendship between Hong Kong and New York and the United States, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties. “Our office remains committed to building on this relationship in the years ahead,” she said.

This weekend’s festivities also coincide with a milestone moment for dragon boating worldwide, as the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) recently relocated its global headquarters back to Hong Kong in July, marking a homecoming to the birthplace of the modern dragon boat movement. The IDBF’s World Dragon Boat Racing Championships will also return to Hong Kong next year for the first time since 1997. Ms Ho noted that this development was a vote of confidence in Hong Kong as a world-class hub for international sport.

Ahead of the race weekend, Ms Ho and representatives of the festival’s major sponsors gathered in Hudson Yards on July 15 for the traditional “awakening” ceremony, dotting the eyes of the dragons in a ritual believed to bring good fortune to the racers. Then on August 7, the festival’s organising committee took the celebration to Wall Street, ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, a nod to the festival’s place in New York’s cultural and sporting calendar.

Over the two-day festival, more than 170 teams and over 1 800 paddlers battled for the podium in front of a strong crowd. Beyond the races, the New York ETO had a festival booth to promote Hong Kong to visitors. Visitors all enjoyed delectable Hong Kong street food, vibrant cultural and musical performances, alongside martial arts and arts and crafts demonstrations throughout the festival grounds.