HONG KONG CONNECT

No.3 March, 2025


	Kai Tak Sports Park Grand Opening Ceremony The Grand Opening Ceremony of the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) was held on 1 March. As the largest sports infrastructure project ever commissioned in Hong Kong, the KTSP provides modern and multi-purpose sports and recreation facilities, including a 50 000-seat Kai Tak Stadium, a 10 000-seat Kai Tak Arena and a 5 000-seat Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground. In addition, KTSP features over 700 000 feet of retail, catering, leisure and entertainment facilities, providing a one-stop destination for sports, leisure, catering and shopping. It is set to drive the development of sports and related industries, while enhancing the city’s appeal to both residents and tourists. At the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr John Lee, said that the KTSP will soon welcome top local, Mainland and international sports, music and cultural events, kicking off “Hong Kong Super March”. He highlighted that Kai Tak has evolved from a flight terminal to a new global stage for sports, culture and arts, reflecting Hong Kong’s spirit of “daring to be the pioneer” and creating unlimited horizons in a limited space. More details here. See the Chief Executive’s speech here.

	Hong Kong maintains third place globally with higher rating in Global Financial Centres Index Hong Kong maintained its third-place global ranking in the Global Financial Centres Index Report, published on 20 March by Z/Yen from the United Kingdom and the China Development Institute from Shenzhen. Hong Kong’s overall rating increased by 11 points to 760, narrowing the gap with the top-ranked financial centre. Hong Kong also continued to rank first in the Asia Pacific and among the top in various financial industry sectors. Specifically, Hong Kong secured first place globally in “investment management”, “insurance” and “finance”, and third place in “banking”. In addition, the report assessed the financial centres’ fintech offerings, and Hong Kong’s ranking jumped five places to fourth globally. The Government spokesman said that with the staunch support from the Mainland, Hong Kong will continue to leverage the advantages under “one country, two systems”, actively integrate into national development, and deepen international exchanges and co-operation, to fulfil its roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”. More details here.

	Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare led HKTE to visit Australia to attract talents The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming, led Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) on a five-day visit to Australia to promote Hong Kong’s opportunities and unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle of having the strong support of the country while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world. The goal of the visit was to attract local talents to pursue their career in Hong Kong. During the visit, the delegation met with representatives from five universities ranked among the world’s top 100, namely the University of Technology Sydney, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, the University of Melbourne and Monash University. They also engaged with a local start-up hub and an innovation institution. HKTE also hosted three talent engagement events, and shared information on the latest round of the Talent List update and the settlement support services provided by the office. Latest updates regarding the visit and other HKTE programmes can be found on its website or social media platforms.

	Chief Justice attended 2025 Asia-Pacific Judicial Colloquium in Australia The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA), Mr Andrew Cheung, led a delegation to the 2025 Asia-Pacific Judicial Colloquium in Canberra, Australia on 24-26 March. The event gathered chief justices and senior judges from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong to discuss legal and judicial issues. The Hong Kong delegation included Mr Justice Roberto Ribeiro and Mr Justice Johnson Lam, Permanent Judges of the CFA, with Mr Justice Ribeiro presenting on "Open Justice, Independent Adjudication and Judicial Use of Generative AI," and Mr Justice Lam discussing "Relevance or Irrelevance of Party Autonomy in Insolvency Proceedings." Prior to the colloquium, Chief Justice Cheung visited the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Sydney to exchange views with the Acting Chief Justice. He also met with the non-permanent judges of the CFA and updated them on the latest developments in the rule of law and administration of justice in Hong Kong. More details here.

	Hong Kong Super March March in Hong Kong has never been more exhilarating. “Hong Kong Super March” brings together a dynamic line-up of world-class events highlighting the city's unique East-meets-West appeal. From the cultural buzz of Art Basel and Collect Hong Kong Art Fair 2025, to thrilling international sporting spectacles like LIV Golf and the iconic Hong Kong Sevens, the city is alive with energy. Innovation and lifestyle also take centre stage with the debut of ComplexCon Hong Kong, while leaders from global enterprises and firms gather at international business forums such as the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit. These events showcase Hong Kong’s role as a global hub for culture, finance, sports, creativity, and connection. More details here.



	Director of HKETO Sydney visited Brisbane The Director of HKETO Sydney, Mr Ricky Chong, visited Brisbane on 20-21 March to attend the “What’s New in Hong Kong 2025 Networking Night” organised by the Hong Kong Australia Business Association (HKABA) Queensland Chapter where he shared updates on Hong Kong’s latest developments and engaged with local business leaders and community representatives to strengthen ties and promote bilateral collaboration. He also participated in the HKABA/Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association Regional Caucus Meeting hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and conducted a presentation on the latest initiatives announced in the recent 2025-26 Budget Speech.

	HKETO Sydney Steps Up Engagement with Alumni and Business Communities In March, the Director of HKETO Sydney, Mr Ricky Chong, participated in several key engagement events with communities in Australia. He attended the HKABA NSW’s “Investing into Hong Kong and the GBA: Opportunities” seminar, where he shared updates on Hong Kong’s latest developments, highlighting the opportunities offered by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He also joined the Joint Four Universities Alumni Lunch Gathering in Sydney, where he emphasised the important role alumni associations play as key partners of HKETO Sydney. He reaffirmed the Office’s commitment to maintaining close ties with alumni groups and the wider Hong Kong community in Australia.

	Director of HKETO Sydney Visited Hong Kong Artist Hikoko Ito’s Exhibition The Director of HKETO Sydney, Mr Ricky Chong, attended a preview of Happy Birthday 2U2, an exhibition by Hong Kong-based Japanese artist and architect, Ms Hikoko Ito, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. Happy Birthday 2U2 is an interactive installation featuring 366 artistic motifs inspired by the Chinese character for “happiness”. The exhibition also includes over 6,000 hand-drawn birthday cards created by Hong Kong students, fostering cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Australia. Mr Chong warmly welcomed Hikoko Ito to Sydney and expressed his delight in seeing Hong Kong artists showcasing their talents and creativity to Australian audiences. He reiterated the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s commitment to supporting artists and arts groups in showcasing their work internationally, further strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a vibrant hub for East-meets-West cultural exchange. The Happy Birthday 2U2 exhibition will run at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Naala Nura Building, until 17 August 2025. Visitors are invited to take part in a unique experience—receiving a birthday wish inside a handmade card, crafted by someone who shares their birthday but whom they’ve never met. More details here.

	Director of HKETO Sydney Visited Careers Fair On 19 March, the Director of HKETO Sydney, Mr Ricky Chong, attended the Big Meet Careers Fair at the International Convention Centre Sydney, where he visited the booth hosted by HKTE. Together with the HKTE team, Mr Chong engaged with undergraduates and recent graduates and introduced to them the opportunities and advantages of working and living in Hong Kong, highlighting Hong Kong’s strengths as an international hub for talents.



	*49^th Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hong Kong)* Founded in 1976, the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is Asia’s longest-running international film festival and a pioneer in introducing Hong Kong, Chinese-language and Asian cinema and filmmakers to the world. The 49^th HKIFF will take place from 10 April to 21 April, featuring over 300 screenings, including six world premieres, two international premieres, and 52 Asian premieres. Renowned international filmmakers such as Leos Carax, Albert Serra, Juho Kuosmanen, and Ando Sakura will also join the festival to present their works and engage with audiences in person. More details here.

	*Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2025 (Hong Kong)* The Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2025, themed "More Than Joy," celebrates the city's rich comedic heritage across various art forms, including comedy films, music, literature, comics, and stand-up performances. Running from 1 April to 31 July 2025, the festival features a diverse array of programmes, such as stage performances, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, and outreach activities. These events aim to entertain and provide insights into the evolution of Hong Kong's pop culture through the lens of humour, fostering cultural exchange and appreciation. More details here.

	*InnoEX (Hong Kong and online)* InnoEX is Asia's premier business platform for next-generation smart solutions, cutting-edge technologies and disruptive innovations. Scheduled from 13 to 16 April 2025 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, InnoEX brings together influential tech experts, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and investors from the region to foster collaborations, share upcoming trends and exchange insights into future opportunities. More details here.


	Common Recruitment Examination in June 2025 The coming Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) is tentatively scheduled to be held in Hong Kong on 7 June 2025. The application period is from 29 March to 11 April 2025. Applicants should submit an application for the CRE before 11:59 p.m. on 11 April 2025 (Hong Kong time) through the on-line application system on the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) webpage. For more details, please visit the Civil Service Bureau’s webpage.

Updates on Latest Situation in Hong Kong