The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) hosted a reception in Perth, Australia, today (March 7) to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
 
     Around 100 guests from various sectors including political and business circles, media, academic and community groups as well as government representatives attended the reception. Among them were the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Perth, Mr Long Dingbin; and the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Ports, Road Safety and Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport of Western Australia, Mr David Michael, representing the Premier of Western Australia.
 
     Addressing the reception, Dr Choi said that Hong Kong has sound education infrastructure, outstanding research talent, as well as diverse basic education. The quality of teaching and learning in Hong Kong is ranked among the top in various international comparative studies.
 
     "Building on this solid foundation, we will continue to seize the opportunities brought about by the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and build on our unique status and advantages under 'one country, two systems' to nurture and attract talent," Dr Choi said.
 
     Dr Choi pointed out that the Government is striving to develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education. "We will double the admission quota of non-local students by government-funded post-secondary institutions to 40 per cent, and strengthen scholarship and related support to attract more overseas and Mainland students to further education in Hong Kong. Another exciting development is the Northern Metropolis University Town, providing unlimited opportunities for post-secondary institutions to strengthen co-operation with renowned Mainland and overseas education institutions," Dr Choi added.
 
     The Director of the Sydney ETO, Miss Trista Lim, introduced the latest initiatives announced in the 2024-25 Budget at the reception. "Our Financial Secretary unveiled his 2024-25 Budget last week presenting a series of measures aimed at bolstering confidence and establishing Hong Kong as a premier destination for business and tourism through hosting more mega events and thematic annual conferences. More than 80 mega events will be staged in Hong Kong in the first half of this year," Miss Lim said.
 
     She also highlighted that the Budget places a strong focus on green development and the digital economy, with various initiatives on green finance, green shipping and aviation, as well as measures to guide industries towards high-quality development.
 
     In addition to the reception in Perth, the Sydney ETO also hosted Chinese New Year receptions in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide in Australia, and Auckland in New Zealand, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with the communities.

Ends/Thursday, March 7, 2024
Issued at HKT 20:28

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