Hong Kong Comes to Chicago 2009 Festival to launch in May
In May, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York will launch the month-long Hong Kong Comes to Chicago 2009 Festival, in conjunction with Chicago’s celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

The festival celebrates Hong Kong’s creativity, entrepreneurship, and cultural and economic vitality through art, films, exhibitions, concerts and educational symposiums.

Tsang pledges to explore economic opportunities with high potential
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang recently noted that economic areas in which Hong Kong enjoys clear advantages will be explored to realize their full, long-term potential.

After chairing the fourth meeting of the Task Force on Economic Challenges (TFEC) on April 3, Mr. Tsang said previous meetings focused on short-term measures to stimulate the economy and preserve jobs.

Government welcomes measures to expand renminbi bond market
The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government recently welcomed the Central People’s Government’s (CPG) efforts to expand the renminbi bond market and to facilitate bank borrowing by Hong Kong enterprises operating on the Mainland.

“Allowing Hong Kong banks on the Mainland to issue renminbi bonds in Hong Kong and consideration by the Ministry of Finance of the CPG to issue renminbi bonds in Hong Kong will help promote the development of the local bond market and further reinforce Hong Kong’s position as an international financial center,” a bureau spokesman said.

Deck closure of Stonecutters Bridge marks near completion of Route 8
Officiating at the Stonecutters Bridge deck closure ceremony on April 7, Hong Kong Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng said the entire Route 8 project is approaching completion. Stonecutters Bridge — a major component of Route 8 — will play an important role in coping with growing traffic among the Northeast New Territories, Kowloon and Western Hong Kong. 

Awareness of intellectual property rights protection remains high
Results from the latest Survey on Business Attitudes to Intellectual Property reveal that awareness of intellectual property (IP) rights among business establishments in Hong Kong remains high.

A total of 1,001 business establishments responded to the survey commissioned by the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) and released April 7.