Cultivate Hong Kong and New Zealand Relationships

Cultivate Hong Kong and New Zealand Relationships

This year marks the 15th Anniversary of the Establishment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Hong Kong has a growing importance for New Zealand.

Hong Kong is no strangers for Rugby Seven lovers. Each year thousands of expats and New Zealanders filled the stadium, streets and bars in Hong Kong supporting the New Zealand team.

This year we are see more exchanges between Hong Kong and New Zealand. High-profile Hong Kong celebrities such as Faye Wong and Jet Lam visited earlier this year. We also see senior officials attended the 2-days inaugural Sea Edge Symposium organised by Waterfront Auckland this month, exchanging ideas on global urban waterfront ideas.

A group of young Social Entrepreneurs, Geili, are also due to be here in Auckland in early April. They are here to exchange economic, social and business ideas, through engagements with tangata whenua, local government, other social entrepreneurs, and communities.

“I have the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Carrie Lam, Secretary for Development of Hong Kong SAR, again at the Sea Edge Symposium yesterday,” says Mayor Len Brown. “Both cities have much to learn from each other. Hong Kong was ranked the most competitive economy according to the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2011, and Auckland was ranked 3rd as the Most Liveable City by Mercer Quality of Living Survey.”

“We will be seeing more senior Hong Kong officials visiting Auckland this year, including the Chief Executive Mr. Donald Tsang,” says Felix Lee, Immediate Past President of Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association. “Both regions sees the importance of collaborations to maximize economic, cultural, and even infrastructural development.”

“This year will be the 4th year where we bring the award-winning Hong Kong Festival to Auckland,” says Raymond Suen, Festival Director. “The Festival won the Best Initiative Awards for the Asia-Pacific Region from the Federation of Hong Kong Business Association Worldwide two years in a row. It shows how important the Festival is in helping further strengthen the bilateral relationships.”

“We will bring Hong Kong to you in late July to coincide with the Anniversary.” Says Suen. “In addition to our annual Cinema Hong Kong, we will showcase Hong Kong through more diverse range of activities, including Hong Kong’s music, art, business and more. We can help cultivate closer relationships between Hong Kong and Auckland through the Festival.”

Hong Kong is New Zealand’s 12th export destination, 8th largest investment destination and the 6th largest source for inward investment into New Zealand. Currently about 3,000 New Zealanders are living in Hong Kong. The relationship between the two regions was further strengthened with the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into effect on 1st January 2011.

The Festival is proudly supported by Hong Kong Economic Trade Office, Hong Kong Trade Development Office, Hantec (NZ) Limited, New Zealand Asia Institute, Cathay Pacific and Langham Hotel. For details of events please visit www.hkfestival.org.nz

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