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2025: Showcasing HK’s talent, creativity, and opportunities in the US

As 2025 draws to a close, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (New York ETO) reflects on a year of deepening ties and expanding engagements across the eastern United States. Cultural highlights showcased Hong Kong as a vibrant East-meets-West hub, including the US premiere of Hong Kong Ballet’s The Butterfly Lovers at Lincoln Center, performances by Hong Kong musicians at Carnegie Hall, cultural exchange between young musicians, and welcoming Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham after his historic win at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Hong Kong’s arts sector was promoted at Art Basel Miami Beach, and the city’s rich cinematic repertoire captivated US audiences at the New York Asian Film Festival and Chicago’s Asian Pop-up Cinema. The annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festivals in New York, Atlanta, and Boston also further strengthened cultural and sporting connections.

On the business and economic front, visits by the Financial Secretary Paul Chan and other financial leaders reinforced financial ties. Participation in the BIO International Convention highlighted Hong Kong’s strengths in its fast-growing innovation and life and sciences sectors. The New York ETO broadened networks across states highlighting Hong Kong’s talent-attraction programmes, and the city’s commitment to free trade.

Looking ahead to 2026, New York ETO will continue to reinforce Hong Kong’s academic, cultural, and economic ties, fostering talent exchange and partnerships across arts, business, and education, and further cementing Hong Kong’s role as a dynamic global hub and “super connector”.

New York ETO celebrates the holiday season in Chicago

New York ETO promoted Hong Kong’s latest business, trade and investment opportunities during a duty visit (Dec 11-12) by Director Maisie Ho. In a meeting with Illinois’s Deputy Director for Trade and Investment of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Margo Markopoulos, Ms Ho highlighted Hong Kong’s strengths in innovation and technology, logistics and trade, and its role as a strategic gateway for both businesses looking to expand into Asia and Chinese businesses utilising Hong Kong as a platform to “go global”. Discussions with Chicago’s First Deputy for Business and Neighborhood Development Max Budovitch, and World Business Chicago executives, focused on the Northern Metropolis development plan and emerging sectors including biotech, fintech and AI. Ms Ho also attended the holiday reception organised by the Hong Kong Business Association of the Midwest, during which she highlighted Hong Kong’s renewed economic momentum, and underscored the city’s cherished ties with Chicago.

Hong Kong Park in Hetao Co-operation Zone opens

The opening of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Hetao Co-operation Zone) marks the beginning of further development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into a world-class hub for technological innovation. Speaking at the opening ceremony (Dec 22), Chief Executive John Lee said the Hetao Co-operation Zone is a major national technological innovation co-operation zone that spans across two different social systems geographically, leveraging the strengths of the respective economic frameworks and judicial regimes. It will emerge as a bridgehead and testing ground for Hong Kong’s I&T development and a powerful engine for growth. 

The Hong Kong Park’s first phase has seen the completion of key buildings, with over 60 institutions now occupying them. Mr Lee also announced the start of the Western Cross-River Link Bridge project, connecting the two parks in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The two sides will adopt a "single-span across the river" approach in construction, which will serve as a new landmark to connect the two parks under the concept of "one zone, two parks" while creating an innovation network in the Greater Bay Area.

APEC finance ministers’ meeting to be held in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government welcomed (Dec 12) the central government’s decision to hold the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting (FMM) 2026 in Hong Kong. Chief Executive John Lee said the HKSAR Government will leverage Hong Kong’s experience and strengths as an international financial centre to ensure a successful event and will use the opportunity to deepen international exchanges and co-operation while better integrating into national development. As APEC 2026 host, China will prepare for and chair the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and related ministerial meetings. The FMM will be hosted by the Ministry of Finance, and organised by the HKSAR Government.

Hong Kong financial markets show strong growth and resilience

Hong Kong’s financial markets have shown strong growth and resilience, said Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui, at the 23rd Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies (Dec 11). Market capitalisation reached US$6.1 trillion by November, with IPO proceeds surging 228% year-on-year, positioning Hong Kong as a leading global listing venue. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustaining competitiveness and deepening global financial integration through Renminbi internationalisation, enhancing trading efficiency and product offerings, and strengthening ESG governance standards.

HKEX Tech 100 Index launched

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) launched (Dec 9) the HKEX Tech 100 Index, its first Hong Kong equity index tracking the 100 largest Hong Kong-listed companies across six innovative sectors, including artificial intelligence, biotech and robotics. HKEX also signed a licensing agreement with E Fund Management to issue an ETF in the Chinese Mainland market. HKEX Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Chan said the index underscores the critical role Hong Kong’s markets play in nurturing these emerging industries.

IP financing sandbox launched

Hong Kong marked a key milestone in strengthening its innovation landscape with the launch of the intellectual property (IP) financing sandbox (Dec 22) and the opening of Hong Kong Technology & Innovation Support Centre. Jointly launched by Commerce & Economic Development Bureau, Intellectual Property Department and Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the sandbox aims to assist pilot sectors in leveraging IP assets for financing and provides a collaborative and risk-controlled environment for stakeholders to test IP financing arrangements. Three major banks have joined as inaugural participants. Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau said the IP financing sandbox, together with other related measures announced in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address, would strengthen the city’s role as a regional IP trading centre.

Professional Services GoGlobal Platform launched

Hong Kong officially launched (Dec 13) the Professional Services GoGlobal Platform, marking a new stage in helping Mainland enterprises expand overseas. Initiated by Department of Justice with support from Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the platform links legal, financial and accounting services to provide tailored support. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau said Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, together with its world-class and highly internationalised professional and legal services, makes the city the best partner for Mainland enterprises going global. 

International gold trading centre takes shape

Hong Kong is actively working towards the goal of establishing Hong Kong as an international centre for gold trading, storage, clearing and risk management, with a complete industry chain taking shape for the city’s gold market, said Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui (Dec 22). Initiatives include expanding airport gold storage capacity, launching an offshore vault by the Shanghai Gold Exchange, enhancing Hong Kong–Shenzhen co-operation, and developing a central gold clearing system, scheduled to commence trial operation in 2026. A preparatory taskforce will be formed to promote industry collaboration and facilitate the formation of a self-governing industry body.

Hong Kong International Airport wins accolades

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been voted the “World’s Leading Airport for Customer Experience” at the prestigious 32nd World Travel Awards, in recognition of its efforts to enhance passenger facilities and provide excellent services. HKIA was also voted “Asia’s Leading Airport” for the fifth time since 2020, as well as “China’s Leading Airport” for the fourth year in a row. Globally recognised as the hallmark of excellence, the World Travel Awards honour outstanding achievements across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries, with winners selected by industry professionals and travellers worldwide.

Aircraft engineering training centre opens

The launch (Dec 18) of the first aircraft engineering training centre marks a major step in developing Hong Kong into Asia’s first aircraft recycling and parts-trading centre, said Chief Executive John Lee, adding that this will create high-value and high-skill jobs and drive the development of related industries. The Hong Kong International Aviation Academy, in collaboration with leading European aeronautic services company Elior, will offer programmes in aircraft engineering, maintenance and airworthiness management, beginning in the first quarter of 2026.

Hong Kong to host international law institute

The General Assembly of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) will set up its first overseas office, the Asia-Pacific Liaison Office, in Hong Kong in the second half of 2026. This marks UNIDROIT’s first regional presence outside Rome in its 100-year history and reinforces Hong Kong’s status as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services and an international legal hub. To be located at the Hong Kong Legal Hub, the office will provide UNIDROIT with a permanent Asia-Pacific presence and strengthen coordination with the Hague Conference on Private International Law and United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, both already represented at the Legal Hub.

Criticisms of court verdict biased, disrespectful

The HKSAR Government rejected criticisms from G7 foreign ministers and the EU, the US, other Western countries and anti-China groups over the conviction of Lai Chee-ying, calling the comments biased and disrespectful of the rule of law, saying the verdict was based strictly on law and evidence, not political views or beliefs, with the court exercising independent judicial power. The court found Lai used Apple Daily to promote seditious content, undermine authorities and collude with foreign forces. The government stressed that press freedom remains protected under law, but subject to the law. Separately, the HKSAR Government also condemned (Dec 16) the Hong Kong Journalists Association and foreign anti-China media for misleading the public by portraying Lai’s conviction as a press freedom issue, reiterating that Hong Kong upholds the rule of law. It stressed that all laws must be obeyed, with national security offences handled strictly under the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. In a Dec 11 statement, the HKSAR Government strongly rejected a report by the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China as biased, slanderous and an interference in Hong Kong affairs, emphasising that all judicial cases are handled strictly according to evidence and law. It said defendants receive fair trials and that rights and freedoms are firmly protected by both the Constitution and the Basic Law.

The Basic Law (BL) is the constitutional document of the HKSAR. It provides the guarantees to maintain our existing way of life, including socio-economic development, the rights and duties of Hong Kong people, the rule of law and other areas. The Basic Law was put into effect on July 1, 1997.

Q: How may non-government organisations engage internationally under the name “Hong Kong, China”?

A: Non-government organisations in fields such as education, science, technology, culture, art, sports, the professions, medicine and health, labour, social welfare and social work as well as religious organisations in the HKSAR may maintain and develop relations with their counterparts in foreign countries and regions and with relevant international organisations. They may, as required, use the name “Hong Kong, China” in the relevant activities. (BL 149)