Government announces calendar of mega events in Hong Kong (first half of 2025)
The Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, together with the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, and the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Mr Dane Cheng, announced the calendar of mega events in Hong Kong for the first half of 2025 today (November 19).
Mr Wong said the Government will continue to take a proactive role in promoting and attracting different mega events to Hong Kong with an emphasis on quality and quantity. The calendar of mega events in Hong Kong for the first half of 2025 announced today includes information on 93 events that cover various areas. The Government strives for the early publication of the new calendar, with a view to allowing members of the public, tourists and related industries to learn about the mega events in Hong Kong, facilitating the early planning of visits to Hong Kong, or seizing business opportunities by designing and launching activities and products in collaboration with the mega events.
Mega events will contribute to economic benefits for Hong Kong. Based on the current data, it is estimated that approximately 840000 tourists would participate in the mega events in first half of 2025. Their spending is estimated to be about HK$3.3billion, bringing a value add of about HK$1.8billion to the Hong Kong economy.
Mr Yeung said that in addition to the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) is also committed to promoting the development of industries in these three areas through mega events and assisting in driving a diversified economy. The CSTB aims to showcase Hong Kong's soft power and the charm of Hong Kong as an international metropolis to the world. So far in 2024, the CSTB has participated in and supported a number of culture, sports and tourism-related mega events by different means, including organisation of events by the CSTB and its departments and organisations, provision of financial support by various funding schemes of the CSTB, as well as co-ordination and facilitation of event arrangements. Looking ahead in the first half of 2025, Hong Kong will continue to welcome international and local mega events of culture, sports and tourism.
Mr Cheng said the Mega Events Development and Advancement Division (MEDA) of the HKTB actively serves as the first point of contact for event organisers. Since its formation in March 2024, MEDA has handled inquiries from close to 100 events. The HKTB also proactively reaches out to local, Mainland and international event organisers, as well as major music and entertainment brands, to introduce MEDA's work and available support with a view to bringing potential mega events to Hong Kong, further solidifying Hong Kong's reputation as the "Events Capital of Asia".
Regarding the updating of the calendar of mega events, at present the calendar, which covers the coming half year, is announced every half year. The CSTB will update the calendar of mega events more frequently by way of rolling updates, with a view to enabling the general public and tourists to access the latest information.
The calendar of mega events in Hong Kong (first half of 2025) is in the Annex. The public can also browse it through the website for Brand Hong Kong (www.brandhk.gov.hk).
Government announces calendar of mega events in Hong Kong (first half of 2025) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Government announces calendar of mega events in Hong Kong (first half of 2025) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SCED hosts cocktail reception to give update on overseas ETOs' and Mainland Offices' continuous efforts in promoting strengths and opportunities of Hong Kong
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, today (November 19) hosted a cocktail reception for about 200 guests including representatives of consulates, chambers of commerce and major trade associations, as well as members of relevant government boards and committees, to update them on the continuous efforts of the overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) and the Mainland Offices in promoting the strengths and opportunities of Hong Kong on all fronts.
The reception was held during when the Heads of the 14 ETOs and five Mainland Offices (HETOs) return to Hong Kong for the annual meeting of HETOs.
Speaking at the reception, Mr Yau said that following the pandemic, the ETOs and Mainland Offices have arranged or supported a large number of duty visits conducted by senior government officials in the past year to promote Hong Kong's unique advantages and vast opportunities for businesses and investments.
He stressed that despite geopolitical tensions, Hong Kong's economic outlook remained optimistic, citing that the city regained the status as the world's freest economy among 165 economies in the latest Fraser Institute report. With the staunch support from the motherland, Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique strengths and improve on its free and open business environment.
Mr Yau briefed the guests on an array of initiatives announced in the 2024 Policy Address to spearhead strategies to develop and nurture high value-added industries, such as developing Hong Kong into a multinational supply chain management centre, creating a commodity trading ecosystem and developing an international gold trading centre. He also highlighted the recent policy breakthroughs to fortify Hong Kong's position as an ideal investment hub, such as liberalisation measures under the amended Agreement on Trade in Services under the framework of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, and visa facilitation to enable convenient entry into the Mainland by non-Chinese permanent residents in Hong Kong.
Mr Yau added that with the distinct advantages of enjoying strong support from the country while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the global trading system, Hong Kong will continue to integrate into the overall development of the country, acting as the "super connector" and "super value-adder" for foreign investments to connect with the vast Mainland market, and capitalise on the opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.
"We will also continue to proactively make efforts to explore possible enhancement to our ETO network. As announced earlier, we are working on setting up new offices in Kuala Lumpur and Riyadh to strengthen our ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Middle East," he added.
Emphasising collaboration, Mr Yau at the same time called for continuous support from business leaders to join hands with the ETOs in promoting Hong Kong to overseas counterparts.
"In order to deepen our promotion work in telling the good stories of Hong Kong, the Government and the ETOs cannot do enough just on our own. We encourage our ETOs to collaborate with our business sectors as well as the chambers in Hong Kong to organise various activities in overseas countries to promote Hong Kong," he said.
Also attending today's cocktail reception included members of the Executive Council and the Legislative Council, officials from the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, and representatives from the tourism, creative industries as well as performing arts groups.
SCED hosts cocktail reception to give update on overseas ETOs' and Mainland Offices' continuous efforts in promoting strengths and opportunities of Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SCED hosts cocktail reception to give update on overseas ETOs' and Mainland Offices' continuous efforts in promoting strengths and opportunities of Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SCED hosts cocktail reception to give update on overseas ETOs' and Mainland Offices' continuous efforts in promoting strengths and opportunities of Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
