Celebrating Finnish Independence: Hong Kong's Commitment to Education and Cultural Collaboration

Speech by Acting CS at Independence Day of Finland Reception

Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Independence Day of Finland Reception today (December 6):

Consul General (Mr Timo Kantola),Deputy Commissioner Fang Jianming (Deputy Commissioner of 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), ladies and gentlemen,

Hyvää iltaa. In case some of you do not have the faintest idea what I was trying to say in Finnish, here is the English translation – good evening. Hello everyone, I am delighted to join you at this reception to celebrate Finnish Independence Day.

Congratulations to our friends from Finland on your country's many achievements during your 107 years of independence. Today, Finland is one of the happiest, healthiest, safest, greenest and best-educated places on Earth.

Despite our geographical and cultural differences, I am pleased to say that Finland and Hong Kong enjoy strong collaboration, notably in areas that put both places at the top end of the United Nations Human Development Index.

One such area is education. With a well-developed web of 54international schools and five universities that ranked in the world's top 100, Hong Kong prides itself on being a premier education hub in Asia. Finnish education is so creative and successful that this time last year, the Education University of Hong Kong established a Global Research Institute for Finnish Education. Through this initiative, we can better understand Finland's pioneering education system and integrate research findings into educational development. Closer links with Finnish institutions will also enable us to advance education and tackle challenges from a global perspective. I look forward to seeing the research outcome by the Global Research Institute for Finnish Education, which may provide useful insight into building a happier learning environment for our students in Hong Kong.

To attract more talent to Hong Kong to support our economic and other developments, we have a Top Talent Pass Scheme under which graduates of 200 universities worldwide can be admitted to settle here. The University of Helsinki is on the list of eligible universities and we have indeed approved applications made by its graduates. We certainly would love to see more Finnish talent joining the scheme to enrich our pool of talent and our internationalism.

Speaking of talent, I share the Consul General's enthusiasm over the appointment of Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski as the next Music Director of the acclaimed Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil). Although he will only take up the new role in the 2026/27 season, Maestro Peltokoski has already won the hearts of local audiences with his performances here on several previous occasions. Under his baton, we can look forward to the further success of the HK Phil as a flagship brand of our city.

I take delight in tellingthe Consul General and the guests in this room that the number of visitors from Finland to Hong Kong is returning to pre-pandemic levels. In the first 10 months of this year, we received around 9500 visitors from Finland, compared to 8 300 for the whole of last year. I am optimistic that this number will continue to go up, after the Central Authority's recent introduction of 15-day visa-free travel to the Mainland for residents of Finland and other Nordic countries.

In fact, we are eagerly anticipating the visit later this month of Finland’s best-known resident! Yes, Santa Claus is preparing to leave his Lapland home for his annual round-the-world-trip to deliver Christmas gifts to the young and the young-at-heart!

On this note, I wish our Finnish friends a memorable Independence Day and a very enjoyable festive season. Thank you.

Speech by Acting CS at Independence Day of Finland Reception Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSARG responds to reauthorization of the so-called Sanctions Provisions under HKHRDA incorporated in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025

​The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (December 26) strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects US' reauthorization of the so-called Sanctions Provisions under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (HKHRDA) incorporated in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

A spokesman for the Government said, "In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, it is each and every sovereign state's inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and it is also an international practice. With at least 21 pieces of laws safeguarding national security, the US has exposed its double standards by pointing the finger at the HKSAR's legal system and enforcement mechanism to safeguard national security."

"The Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) also clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. The offences endangering national security stipulated by the related Ordinance target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity, aiming at addressing, combating, deterring and preventing acts and activities of endangering national security. It targets only an extremely small minority of people without affecting the basic rights and freedoms lawfully enjoyed by Hong Kong residents."

He said, "The US openly clamour for so-called 'sanctions' with an aim to intimidate HKSAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security. The HKSAR Government strongly condemns its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all. The HKSAR despises the so-called 'sanctions' and will not be intimidated by such a despicable behaviour. The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security."

The HKSAR Government has been enforcing the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) fully and vigorously to fulfil our international obligations. We have long been maintaining an effective mechanism for implementing the resolutions of the UNSC. That includes denying entry of vessels designated by the UNSC as well as suspicious vessels, keeping a close watch on and inspecting suspicious Hong Kong-based companies to prevent them from participating in activities evading UNSC sanctions. At the same time, the HKSAR Government has been implementing a comprehensive and robust control regime over the import and export of strategic commodities and maintaining active participation in the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty through the Central People's Government. The effectiveness of our work has been well respected and recognised by our trading partners and internationally.

The US has substantial economic interest in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, it registered a trade surplus of about US$270 billion with Hong Kong. Currently, some 1 390 US companies operate in Hong Kong. If the US insists on its acts, it will ultimately undermine the mutually beneficial relations between Hong Kong and the US, harming the interests of the US and its companies.

The spokesman reiterated that foreign governments and legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR.