"Four-in-One" Seminar Series

The four SMEs centres co-organise "Four-in-One" seminar series regularly.  Theme of this seminar series in the first half of 2023 is “Business Upgrading and Transformation”, with an aim to assisting enterprises to achieve business upgrade and transformation.  The SME One of HKPC would organise a seminar under this seminar series on 24 February 2023.  Interested persons are welcome to register at the link below.  Admission is Free.

InnoPreneur MeetUp - 2023 Digitalisation On the Rise: New Era New Market (Event)

(This event will be held by SME One on 24 February 2023 at HKPC Building)

In this event, experts will share tips with SMEs on how to grasp the business opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), including success cases on settling in the GBA, 2023 tech trends, strategies and tactics of making use of digitalisation for business development or joining the digital industry, as well as the latest government policies and support in the region, including that of Hong Kong and Qianhai, with a view to assisting SMEs in exploring and developing the Mainland market, as well as upgrading and restructuring their operations.  (This event will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More details and registration

Promotional Flyer
 

SUCCESS Activities

I. How to Manage Trade Receivable Risks to Expand into the GBA Market (Webinar)

(This webinar will be live-streamed on 13 February 2023)

The Mainland of China has been actively expanding its domestics demand in recent years.  How can SMEs grasp the opportunities brought by the expanding domestic demand following the progressive, orderly and comprehensive resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland?  In this webinar, representative from the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (HKECIC) will share the market overview and opportunities in the GBA, as well as the HKECIC's services and supportive measures, with a view to assisting Hong Kong exporters in developing domestic sales in the GBA.  (This webinar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details

II. Challenges and Solutions on Human Resources Management after the Pandemic (Seminar)

(This seminar will be held by SUCCESS on 21 February 2023 at Trade and Industry Tower)

The pandemic has changed the working attitude and pattern of employees.  Enterprises have to adjust their human resources management strategies under the new normal.  In this seminar, a human resources and people development expert will explain the challenges on human resources management encountered by SMEs, and provide professional advices and solutions through case-sharing.  Speaker will also introduce “gig workforce”, the latest trend in the labour market, with a view to assisting SMEs in engaging and managing top talents in a flexible manner to enhance operational efficiency.  (This seminar will be conducted in Cantonese.)

More Details
 

"Hello Hong Kong" Campaign launched to promote Hong Kong around the world

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the "Hello Hong Kong" Campaign Launch Ceremony on 2 February 2023, to unveil a series of promotional activities and highlight the many new attractions, developments and opportunities for visitors coming to Hong Kong.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee said that as Hong Kong is now in a new phase of advancing from stability to prosperity and is seamlessly connected to the Mainland and the rest of the world, it is the perfect time for tourists, investors, entrepreneurs and innovators to come and experience the vibrancy of the city and seize opportunities to flourish.

"Hello Hong Kong" is a large-scale global promotional campaign focusing on four major areas.  They include:

(i) "Hello Hong Kong" as the over-arching theme to attract visitors to the city: distributing 500,000 free air tickets and welcoming people from around the world to come and experience the hospitality of Hong Kong in person.  Over the past few years, a number of major new attractions have opened, including the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ museum at the West Kowloon Cultural District, providing visitors with more exciting experiences.  There are also various special offers, cash vouchers and other incentives to enrich their itinerary in Hong Kong.

(ii) Sponsored visits for prominent guests: inviting business leaders, political dignitaries, media representatives and influential figures to come and experience the real Hong Kong, understand the latest developments, unlimited opportunities and new tourist attractions on offer in Asia’s world city and share good stories of Hong Kong with their friends and contacts at home.

(iii) Going out to tell good Hong Kong stories: the Government will lead and organise different delegations to the Mainland and overseas countries to introduce the unparalleled strengths of the city under "One Country, Two Systems", to tell the good stories of Hong Kong, and to promote business, tourism and cultural exchanges.

(iv) Launching more MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) and mega events: major events on finance, economy, innovation and technology, sports, arts and culture as well as wine and dine events, together with large-scale international conventions and exhibitions, are coming back one after another, reviving the city’s MICE tourism sector.  In the coming two months, a variety of large-scale events will take place, including the Hong Kong Marathon, Hong Kong Sevens, Trailwalker, Art Basel Hong Kong, Museum Summit, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Hong Kong International Jewllery Show, WOW Summit Hong Kong and Vis East Moot.

Mr Lee added that Hong Kong is ready to welcome tourists from the Mainland and overseas to explore the city’s diversity and opportunities.

Speaking at a press conference immediately after the Launch Ceremony, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said the "Hello Hong Kong" campaign would tell people around the world that Hong Kong is "back" again.  The Government and the Hong Kong Inc. partner organisations will go all out to showcase and promote the city’s new bright economic prospects, new cultural vision as well as new tourism and mega event experiences.  The newly-established Task Force on Promoting and Branding Hong Kong will seize this timely opportunity to devise narratives to proactively demonstrate Hong Kong’s new strengths.

Apart from Mr Lee and Mr Chan, other officiating guests at the Launch Ceremony included the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the President of the Legislative Council, Mr Andrew Leung; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Dr YK Pang; the Chairman of the HKTDC, Dr Peter Lam; and, the Chairman of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), Mr Jack So.

Mr Kevin Yeung, Mr Christopher Hui, Mr Algernon Yau and Professor Sun Dong together with the Director of Information Services, Mr Fletch Chan, the Executive Director of the HKTB, Mr Dane Cheng, and the Chief Executive Officer of the AAHK, Mr Fred Lam, also attended the press conference to brief media on relevant publicity strategies and promotional events.

For relevant press release, video and presentations, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202302/02/P2023020200675.htm.
 

Additional regular quotas for Hong Kong cross-boundary non-commercial private cars using Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to Macao open for application from 9am on 20 February to 5:15pm on 3 March 2023

The Transport Department (TD) announced on 26 January 2023 that the governments of Hong Kong and Macao have agreed to increase the regular quotas for Hong Kong cross-boundary non-commercial private cars using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) to Macao (Hong Kong quotas) with a view to enhancing traffic flow between Hong Kong and Macao and better utilising the HZMB.

Since the commissioning of the HZMB, the TD has allocated a total of 1 800 Hong Kong quotas.  Taking into account the traffic situation in the vicinity of the HZMB, the TD will increase the Hong Kong quotas by 1 000.

The additional 1 000 quotas will be distributed in two phases from the second quarter of 2023.  500 quotas are allocated for company applicants and 500 are for individual applicants.  The quotas are valid for no more than three years.  If the number of applications exceeds the specified number of quotas, the TD will, in accordance with their types of applications, carry out balloting to determine the order of applications to be processed.

1. 500 quotas will be issued under the first phase, with 250 company quotas and 250 individual quotas.  Quota holders are expected to be able to travel via the HZMB starting from the second quarter of 2023 until 31 May 2026; and 
2. 500 quotas will be issued under the second phase, with 250 company quotas and 250 individual quotas.  Quota holders are expected to be able to travel via the HZMB starting from the third quarter of 2023 until 31 July 2026.

Conclusion of discussion paper on crypto-assets and stablecoins

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued on 31 January 2023 the consultation conclusion to the discussion paper on crypto-assets and stablecoins (consultation conclusion) (see Annex), summarising the feedback received in relation to the paper and the HKMA's response.  In the consultation conclusion, the HKMA proposes to bring certain activities relating to stablecoins into the regulatory perimeter, and indicates the expected regulatory scope and key regulatory requirements.

The HKMA received a total of 58 submissions in response to the discussion paper on crypto-assets and stablecoins from the industry, public bodies, business and professional organisations, and individuals, etc.  On the whole, the respondents were supportive of regulating stablecoins with a risk-based and agile approach.  The respondents also broadly supported the need to take into account the latest market developments and draw reference from the discussion of international regulatory bodies when developing the relevant regulatory regime.

"An appropriate regulatory environment will help address financial stability risks possibly posed by stablecoins, and promote the orderly and sustainable development of the industry.  We are grateful to the respondents for their valuable feedback to the discussion paper on crypto-assets and stablecoins and their general support for our recommended regulatory principles and direction.  In drawing up the specific regulatory arrangements, the HKMA will consider the feedback received, latest market development and international discussion.  We will also engage with stakeholders and market participants.  We expect to implement the regulatory arrangements in 2023/24," said the Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue.

The HKMA will announce the regulatory arrangements and next steps in due course.

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202301/31/P2023013100484.htm.
 

Following the progressive, orderly and comprehensive resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the expansion of the Pilot Scheme is conducive to bringing together talents worldwide for exchanges in Hong Kong, giving full play to Hong Kong's strength as a place to "connect and excel" under "One Country, Two Systems", illustrating to the world that Hong Kong is back on the international stage.

The Government launched the Pilot Scheme in June 2022.  Under the Pilot Scheme, host organisations authorised by the relevant government bureaux/departments can issue invitation letters to relevant non-local talents in their sectors.  Invited persons may come to Hong Kong to participate in specified short-term activities as visitors, without the need to apply for employment visas/entry permits from the Immigration Department (ImmD).  Invited non-local talents are talents in shortage or whose participation in specified short-term activities in Hong Kong is conducive to economic development or achieving relevant policy objectives.  They may participate in the specified short-term activities for up to 14 days upon each arrival, and receive remuneration for the specified activities concerned.  For more information on the Pilot Scheme, please visit the ImmD's website (https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/stv.html).

For relevant press release, please visit https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202301/31/P2023013100222.htm.