Latest news with #AlphaLau
RTHK
13-07-2025
- Business
- RTHK
InvestHK again flags SAR as stable business location
InvestHK again flags SAR as stable business location Invest Hong Kong director-general Alpha Lau was speaking after a Commercial Radio programme. Photo: RTHK Current geopolitical tensions may bring more opportunities to Hong Kong as companies require a stable business environment, Invest Hong Kong director-general Alpha Lau has reiterated. Speaking after a Commercial Radio programme on Sunday, Lau said the number of foreign companies moving to Hong Kong had been on the rise in recent years and that tariffs were now also a factor. 'The companies told me that, although in the short term these uncertainties are not very good for doing business, they are looking for a platform where the whole region is growing,' she said. This month Invest Hong Kong announced that it had helped over 1,300 overseas and mainland companies expand their business here, bringing foreign direct investment of more than HK$160 billion and exceeding the performance indicators set out in the 2022 Policy Address.
RTHK
07-07-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Bane of tariffs 'boon for HK investment promotions'
Bane of tariffs 'boon for HK investment promotions' InvestHK chief Alpha Lau says around 1,300 enterprises have come to Hong Kong since 2023, with almost half of them made up of mainland companies. Photo: RTHK Invest Hong Kong director-general Alpha Lau said on Monday the disruption caused by US tariffs is an opportunity for the SAR to attract more business. She made the comment as the government's investment promotion agency said that over the past two years it had attracted more than HK$168 billion in investments to the city, more than twice the target laid out in the 2022 Policy Address. "We do not want to see the world being affected by new tariffs, or the US changing the established trade rules that we've been using for decades," Lau said. "But having said that, since it's happening anyway, we believe that Hong Kong is an ideal platform to turn these dangers into opportunities because most companies around the world require stability to do business," she added. Around 1,300 enterprises have entered Hong Kong since 2023, with almost half of them made up of mainland companies, followed by those from the United States, United Kingdom and Singapore. More than half of the enterprises were from the finance, technology and innovation and family offices. Meanwhile, more than 670 applications have been approved through the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme introduced in March last year, bringing in HK$21 billion. The scheme grants longer-term visitor's visas to applicants who will invest a minimum of HK$30 million into the city's technology and innovation sectors and permanent residency after they have stayed here for seven years. Lau said the agency has assisted more than 7,700 enterprises to set up offices in Hong Kong, bringing in more than HK$440 billion. She said InvestHK would continue to promote the SAR in both traditional and new markets and be in line with policies such as the low-altitude economy, liquor trade and the Northern Metropolis.
South China Morning Post
25-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
InvestHK celebrates 25 years of spotlighting Hong Kong on the global business stage
02:33 InvestHK marks 25 years as Hong Kong's ambassadors to the global business community InvestHK marks 25 years as Hong Kong's ambassadors to the global business community For its 25th anniversary, InvestHK has numerous achievements to celebrate in its role as the government agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to Hong Kong and promoting the city as a hub for business. Advertisement Last year, InvestHK reached record-breaking numbers for FDI, by helping 539 mainland Chinese and overseas-based companies establish or expand their operations in Hong Kong – a 41 per cent year-on-year increase. These companies brought a total investment of HK$67.7 billion (US$8.6 billion) into the local economy, 10 per cent higher than 2023, plus an estimated 6,864 new job opportunities. The agency's success can be attributed to its ability to follow major shifts in the global economy and establish dedicated units to serve enterprises in fast-developing sectors such as fintech, robotics, autonomous vehicles, gaming platforms, creative industries and start-ups within the digital space. Alpha Lau, director-general of investment promotion for InvestHK, says that throughout its 25 years in operation, the agency has remained true to its mission of facilitating and promoting investment in Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP/Nora Tam 'We have stayed true to the mission, just in new and different ways,' says Alpha Lau, InvestHK's director-general of investment promotion. 'I am very proud of how far we have come, and the numbers really speak for themselves.' Over the years, more than 7,700 projects have been successfully completed in Hong Kong, which includes getting over 130 companies listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange. In the process, around 93,000 new jobs were created and a total of about HK$420 billion in FDI has been generated. When it comes to working with clients, the InvestHK team has found that the keys to success are building strong relationships, supporting innovation and spearheading events. The agency organises the popular Hong Kong FinTech Week and StartmeupHK Festival, which will both mark their 10-year anniversaries in November. Hong Kong FinTech Week, one of InvestHK's flagship events, showcases the technologies shaping the future of finance, including artificial intelligence and Web3. Photo: SCMP/Matt Haldane 'It is about doing something that no one else has done before,' says Arnold Lau, InvestHK's associate director-general of investment promotion, adding that there are now nearly 4,700 start-ups in Hong Kong, with 13 per cent of them active in fintech. 'It is a matter of finding the people who are innovators, bringing them here and then helping them take their innovations to a broader market.'
Fintech News ME
18-06-2025
- Business
- Fintech News ME
InvestHK's Gulf Cooperation Council Fintech Visit Spurs Strategic Partnerships
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) reinforced its role as a global business hub through a strategic visit to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, forging strong partnerships. The InvestHK GCC fintech delegation built on the momentum from the Chief Executive's earlier visit to the Middle East in May, which saw three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed by InvestHK. The InvestHK GCC fintech delegation, made up of leaders from top financial and fintech firms founded locally, in Mainland China or overseas with operations in Hong Kong, engaged in high-level meetings. This included meetings with local government organisations, private equity partners and tech incubators across the GCC, facilitated by InvestHK. The Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Alpha Lau, said, 'In today's evolving global economy, Hong Kong has showcased its irreplaceable strategic value as a 'super connector'. We recognise opportunities in high-potential markets, such as the GCC region, which are actively diversifying their economies through innovations. By partnering with InvestHK, companies can effectively access these competitive markets with the government's support.' The Global Head of Financial Services, FinTech & Sustainability at InvestHK, King Leung, added, 'Leveraging our in-depth understanding of each participating company, we successfully showcased Hong Kong as an efficient platform for connecting high-quality enterprises, earning broad recognition from local governments, businesses, and investors across the GCC region.' Over the past two years, firms like Evident Group, LianLian Global, OneDegree, and others have joined the delegations, with delegates crediting the HKSAR Government for enabling meaningful results through its support and connections. Evident Group's delegation participation led to a milestone MOU with Zand Bank, the UAE's AI-powered bank. This marked the start of a strategic collaboration, focused on delivering innovative alternative investment solutions for the latter's private wealth clients. By leveraging Evident Group's secure digital market infrastructure, the partnership aims to broaden access to private equity secondaries, private credit, and tokenised infrastructure, highlighting how digitalisation of private markets can strengthen Hong Kong's role as a bridge for global private wealth. Next, LianLian Global sees Hong Kong as a vital hub for expanding its presence in the GCC. Using InvestHK delegations to build key government-to-government relationships, most notably with the Central Bank of the UAE, opened new strategic pathways. Also, at the Dubai FinTech Summit, LianLian Global secured a cooperation agreement with Lulu Money to extend payment services into Mainland China. Thirdly, Lingfeng Capital secured its approved-in-principle from the UAE's Financial Services Regulatory Authority as a licensed fund manager in the UAE. Lingfeng Capital has set up its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi after identifying growth opportunities during the first delegation visit last year. Building on this momentum, Lingfeng Capital is now establishing a fund in Abu Dhabi to support portfolio companies from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and beyond as they expand into the GCC region. Finally, OneDegree has earned recognition from GCC government officials for its digital asset insurance solutions. Backed by investment from Dubai Insurance and approved by the Central Bank of the UAE through its partnership with Dubai Insurance Co., OneDegree is set to provide digital asset insurance in the UAE. Walaa will be providing reinsurance capital for OneDegree's global digital asset playbook. A key milestone for OneDegree was a private meeting with senior leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Insurance Authority during last year's delegation visit. The 2025 InvestHK GCC fintech delegation was built on groundwork laid by HKSAR officials to deliver concrete business outcomes, reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a globally connected, outward-facing economy. As a 'super connector' and 'super value-adder,' Hong Kong continues to drive two-way economic growth through innovation and strategic partnerships.
HKFP
09-06-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Social media, e-commerce platform Xiaohongshu – or RedNote in English – sets up office in Hong Kong
Chinese social network and e-commerce platform Xiaohongshu, known in English as RedNote, has set up an office in Hong Kong – its first outside mainland China. Finance chief Paul Chan officiated at an opening ceremony on Saturday, saying the new office would 'enhance the visibility of Hong Kong's tourism, retail, dining and creative industries,' according to a government press release. Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) said the move would help ensure enhanced services for cross-border users and brands. 'As a leading lifestyle community from China, Xiaohongshu's presence will foster creative collaboration among local content creators, brands and organisations, and promote East-meets-West cultural exchanges and content marketing development among Hong Kong, the Mainland and the global markets,' InvestHK's Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau said. Founded in 2013, Xiaohongshu – which literally means 'little red book' – allows its young user base to share fashion, beauty, travel, food, and other tips as a hub for consumption decision-making. It is particularly popular among affluent Gen Z users in urban China, according to Bloomberg. It was thrust into the international spotlight in January, gaining an influx of American users amid fears that the US would shut down the popular TikTok video app, owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance. However, it is also known for heavily censoring or limiting topics sensitive to Beijing. Taiwan's government banned public servants from using the app on official devices in 2022 over national security concerns.
