Financial Secretary unveils plan to create jobs, tackle financial crisis
Hong Kong Financial Secretary John C. Tsang announced on February 25 a multi-pronged strategy to combat fallout from the global financial crisis.

The measures will tackle both immediate and longer-term challenges by creating jobs, improving the environment, fostering economic development and building a caring community.

Trade official visits government, business leaders in three states
Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA Donald Tong made his first official visits to the states of Massachusetts, Illinois and Georgia in February and met with government officials and business leaders in the three states. As part of his visits, he also attended the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office’s spring receptions in Boston (February 12), Chicago (February 18) and Atlanta (February 26).

Renowned U.S. art school to open Hong Kong branch
Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau welcomed the recent establishment of a Hong Kong branch campus by renowned U.S. art, design and digital media institution Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD).

Mrs. Lau said the branch will bring in new impetus for the local creative sector and offer excellent educational opportunities for those who plan to join the industry.

Public feedback released on Companies Ordinance rewrite
On February 2, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government released the third public consultation conclusions on the Companies Ordinance rewrite covering share capital, capital maintenance structure and statutory amalgamation procedure.

Forty submissions were received during the three-month consultation, which ended September 30.

Awareness of intellectual property rights continues to expand
A survey commissioned by the Intellectual Property Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government shows Hong Kong residents are becoming more aware of the importance of protecting intellectual property (IP) rights. 

Since such surveys started in 1999, public awareness has significantly improved.

Hong Kong donates US$200,000 to APEC
On February 16, Hong Kong donated US$200,000 to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) toward work on the reduction of trade transaction costs and other trade facilitation efforts.

Hong Kong made the donation during the APEC 2009 First Senior Officials Meeting (SOMI) in Singapore.