Updates from Hong Kong: May 2023
Greeting from our Senior Commercial Officer, Bradley Harker
April was a busy month in Hong Kong, with a flurry of exciting events and activities that kept everyone on their toes. The Digital Economy Summit and Web3Festival brought a packed crowd to the Hong Kong Convention Center, while preparations for the upcoming SelectUSA Summit were in full swing.
It was a month of high-profile visitors as well, with the State of Washington's Small Business Development Centers making a notable appearance. In addition, a fabulous reception was held for education agents and partners, and we organized reception at one of Hong Kong's newest office towers, designed by U.S. company Autodesk.
Hong Kong is buzzing with energy, and the cool weather has people enjoying the outdoors before the heat sets in. If you're in the region, don't miss out on the chance to experience the lively and dynamic business scene in Hong Kong.
Also, we are particularly pleased to welcome the newest member of our team, Mr. Timothy Zee!
Welcome, new Commercial Assistant, Timothy Zee
Timothy Zee recently joined our team as Commercial Assistant. He will be working to support the Commercial Officers and Commercial Specialists to develop and implement market entry and expansion programs. He will also be managing team events and maintains contacts in key industry sectors and relevant government entities in Hong Kong and Macau.
Prior to joining the U.S. Commercial Service, Timothy was a front office agent at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Seattle. In 2017, he joined a Hong Kong local waste management company, assisting in glass recycling, waste management and sustainability projects. Throughout the years, Timothy worked and promoted glass implosion technology to engage glass recycling projects with clients.
In 2018, he was the project lead of Macau Waste House Monitoring System with over 600 IoT devices across Macau, which was part of Macau’s smart city blueprint development.
Timothy received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA. He is also a Certified Microsoft Azure Administrator. Born in California and raised in Hong Kong, Timothy speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin fluently. He loves basketball, rowing, running, hiking and camping.
Upcoming Commercial Service Events
 Join IPW, the U. S’s largest inbound travel trade show, May 20-24, 2023.
With wanderlust on high gear again, it makes perfect sense to attend the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW 2023 at San Antonio, Texas this May. IPW 2023 has confirmed the participation of more than 1,200 travel exhibitors and destination organizations.
As part of the delegation, attendees will get up to 42 prescheduled appointments with exhibitors representing destinations, hotels, attractions, and transportation companies. The U.S Travel Association will provide lodging at the assigned hotel for five nights. Additionally, your registration includes all meals and networking functions, which are an official part of IPW.
If you are a travel agent interested in promotion U.S. as a holiday destination or travel media wanting to rediscover the U.S., please contact Maggie Lau at maggie.lau@trade.gov to learn about the conference.
 NAFSA 2023 Annual Conference & Expo, May 30-June 2, 2023.
NAFSA, the world’s largest association dedicated to international education and exchange, is holding their 75th NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo from May 30-June 2, 2023 in Washington, D.C. International educators from more than 100 nations will discover the latest innovations, proven strategies, and best practices at NAFSA 2023.
U.S Commercial Service’s Commercial Specialist, Maggie Lau, will be attending the conference to meet U.S educational institutions and give them an update on education in Hong Kong. If you are planning to attend or have already registered for NAFSA 2023, please connect with Maggie at maggie.lau@trade.gov to help optimize your trip. For more information on education in Hong Kong, please visit our Country Commercial Guide.
International Franchise Expo New York, June 1-3, 2023.
The U.S. Commercial Service is partnering again with MFV Expositions to promote International Franchise Expo (IFE), the largest franchise show in the U.S. The conference runs from June 1-3 at the Javits Center in New York and will showcase hundreds of participating franchises across industries.
Aspiring business owners and seasoned investors in franchises are invited to join our Hong Kong delegation. More than 70 educational sessions will help participants learn more about the fundamentals of owning a franchise, financing, marketing, and ways to scale-up an existing franchise.
Members of our delegation will be given access to International Business Center, one-to-one business match making and a 50% discount to attend workshops. Please e-mail Natalie Tong at natalie.tong@trade.gov if you are interested to join the IFE delegation.
2023 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, July 23-27, 2023.
The 2023 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo is one of the milestone events in the medical laboratory industry. Taking place at the Anaheim, California Convention Center, the program will focus on the latest research and changes in the industry in the form of lectures, plenary sessions, scientific sessions and roundtable discussions.
Delegates can also connect with industry leaders in clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of breaking science in laboratory medicine. So far, more than 800 exhibitors and 200 new products and services are scheduled to be unveiled during this year’s event.
We invite clinical lab professional across Hong Kong to attend AACC. Please email Natalie Tong at natalie.tong@trade.gov for more information.
Superzoo, August August 15-18, 2023.
Our office has begun to promote the furriest and lovable trade show of the year, S
uperZoo. If you are in the pet business and want to keep up with new pet trends, head out to Las Vegas this August 15-18, 2023.
SuperZoo is the largest pet retail event in North America, organized by World Pet Association since 1950. The show attracts more than 1,000 exhibitors and 20,000 attendees.
With more than 100 educational sessions, easy-to-navigate floor show, a special area dedicated for grooming and exotic pets, the show is not to be missed by anyone in the pet business. Please e-mail Natalie Tong at natalie.tong@trade.gov if you want to join our SuperZoo delegation.
HKTDC International Medical and Healthcare Fair, May 16-18, 2023.
The HKTDC International Medical and Healthcare Fair, Hong Kong’s biggest medical and healthcare will back this May. Starting on May 16, this 3-day conference will feature a wide range of products including medical devices, healthcare products, medical supplies and equipment, and hospital equipment. According to HKTDC, the conference is poised to attract more than 5,000 delegates from all over.
The show will highlight specialized fields such as health & wellness, rehabilitation and elderly care, hospital equipment and medical supplies and biotechnology. Hong Kong Science & Technology Park has secured a pavilion to feature 25 medical and healthcare start-ups that were nurtured and grown within the program and facility.
The U.S. Commercial Team will join HKTDC for a specially curated show tour on May 17 at 10:30 am. We’d like to invite U.S. companies to join us on this tour. Please contact Natalie Tong at natalie.tong@trade.gov for more information
Recent Highlights
Autodesk Reception at AIRSIDE, April 28, 2023.
The U.S. Commercial Service team recently partnered with U.S. design technology company Autodesk to host an event for 70 industry leaders to showcase their latest design achievements at one of Hong Kong’s newest commercial towers called Airside, built by Nan Fung.
Airside showcases Autodesk and Nan Fung’s vision for an innovative approach in design, waste management, and sustainability. We are pleased to help showcase how American technology has been used in the transformation of the old Kai Tak airport for the creation of a new and vibrant vision for the future of urban living. To learn more about the design and construction sector, please contact Michael Wajntal at Michael.Warjtal@trade.gov
Microsoft Experience Center visit, April 12, 2023.
The Hong Kong U.S. Commercial Service team recently arranged for Consul General Gregory May to meet with the executives from Microsoft in Cyberport to get an update on the company’s latest initiatives in Hong Kong.
After the meeting, we were given a tour of the Microsoft Experience Center. The center featured the latest in cutting-edge technologies, especially in the field of artificial intelligence. We witnessed how the future Microsoft Office suite is augmented through the adoption of A.I., taking efficiency to a new level.
Education Partners Reception, April 12, 2023.
The U.S. Commercial Service team hosted a reception for our education partners at the Consul General’s residence recently. Over 30 education agents, edtech companies, and Hong Kong universities were represented at the reception.
We took the opportunity to invite colleagues at the consular section to share insights on the education visa where Hong Kong has an amazing 97% success rate! Additionally, our public affairs section proudly shared EducationUSA’s successful efforts in promoting U.S. education in the local community.
Meeting with Airport Authority Hong Kong, March 31, 2023.
The U.S. Commercial Service team recently facilitated a meeting between Consul General Gregory May and Fred Lam, the Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong’s Airport Authority. With the imminent completion of the airport’s third runway and the expansion of Terminal 2, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is set to reclaim its position as the region’s top aviation hub.
With the third runway, passenger capacity is set to increase to 120 million annually, and freight capacity to 10 million tons from the current 5 million tons. The expansion of Terminal 2 is scheduled for completion by 2024.
The Airport Authority has also launched an airport-wide 2050 Net Zero Carbon Pledge, with a mid-point target of 55% reduction in absolute emissions by 2035.
For more information about Hong Kong’s role as a logistics hub, please refer to the Logistics section our Country Commercial Guide.
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