On 19 October, Chief Executive John Lee delivered his highly anticipated first Policy Address. Under the title “Charting a Brighter Tomorrow for Hong Kong”, he introduced a range of initiatives and strategies to be implemented to reinvigorate the economy, attract enterprises and high-quality talent from overseas, and secure Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a leading business hub in the region in the years to come. Here, we look at some of the key takeaways from the speech and what businesses can look forward to.

How did members of GCC react to the first Policy Address of the new Chief Executive? Did it meet the overall expectations? What were some of the key takeaways? And which events are on the agenda in the weeks and months ahead? In our new German-language video format, Hannes Farlock, Chief Representative of GIC, and Johannes Hack, President of GCC, talk about these and other questions.

The Annual Report 2021 of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) compiles key statistics and special highlights from 150 locations in 92 countries around the world. In the words of Dr. Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the “German Chambers of Commerce Abroad have the specialist and local expertise needed to make a decisive contribution through their strong networks on the ground.”

China’s retail sector has been gradually recovering from the consequences of the two-month lockdown in Shanghai earlier this year. However, while certain segments such as car sales have been booming again recently, the overall outlook for 2023 is more mixed. Consumer sentiment is weighed down by several long-term factors. Read the analysis by our partner Germany Trade & Invest (German language).

EPRO Advance Technology Ltd. has invented a process to produce porous silicon material (Si+) that can store energy and produce clean hydrogen on demand with a water source, thereby reinventing the wheel of the hydrogen economy.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is regarded as one of the leading orchestras in Asia. The orchestra’s annual schedule focuses on symphonic repertoire, with conductors and soloists from all around the world.

Find all 2022-23 representative changes at a glance here.

Skyscrapers with holes in them are a common feature in the eccentric skyline of Hong Kong. Perhaps one of the most well-known examples is The Repulse Bay (pictured), built in 1986. But what is the reason for this peculiar design?

Urban legend has it that the answer lies in the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui. According to traditional belief, dragons live in the mountains of Hong Kong. Therefore, “dragon gates” in buildings, particularly near the sea, are meant to give dragons an unimpeded flight path to the ocean and allow positive energy to flow through the building. However, while feng shui certainly plays a prominent role in the architecture and urban design of Hong Kong, the main consideration behind the holes is in fact of practical nature.

Back in the 1980s, property developers were looking to maximise their saleable area on very limited available space. This often resulted in high-rises being built so closely together that they would effectively resemble a wall. These so-called “wall effect” buildings are believed to have a negative impact on their surroundings, as they reduce air ventilation and block out natural sunlight and views. One of the most infamous examples of this practice is the Provident Centre along the waterfront of North Point and Fortress Hill.

In 2005, the Planning Department released the “Feasibility Study for Establishment of Air Ventilation Assessment System” with recommendations for private developers to take proper air ventilation into account. Although the AVA study is not legally binding, many developers have since used holes or gaps in their building designs as a way to follow the guideline and avoid the “wall effect,” while largely retaining their saleable area.