Waste is a global problem and one that, despite best endeavours, only continues to grow. Landfills are potentially hazardous and running out of capacity. Other solutions, such as energy from waste, are expensive to build and operate if they are to be environmentally sustainable. At the same time, there is increasing recognition that valuable resources are being buried or burnt rather than being recovered. To address this challenge, many developed countries have adopted the use of mechanical sorting or material recycling facilities.

German Industry and Commerce in collaboration with ALBA Group Asia and The Green Earth has produced a white paper that explores the potential of advanced waste sorting facilities as the key to effective and efficient recycling and waste management in Hong Kong.

In our last edition before the summer, Hannes Farlock and Johannes Hack reflect on some of the activities and events of recent weeks, including a high-ranking delegation visit from Germany as well as an extended trip to central China, while taking you on a walk from Central Market to Tai Kwun in the heart of Hong Kong. [German with English subtitles]

Since the border reopening in February, access to mobile payment services in Mainland China has been a recurring issue for businesspeople based in Hong Kong and overseas. Following fruitful discussions between the international chamber community and the Hong Kong government, five major payment providers have presented step-by-step guides on the use of their cross-boundary services. Find the full details on our website.

Hong Kong’s GDP is projected to increase by 5.5% in real terms in 2023. Tourism and foreign trade are likely to make significant contributions to the city’s economic output. Around 24 million tourists are expected to visit Hong Kong in 2023, just over a third of the total number of visitors in the record year 2018 (65 million) and more than a 40-time increase compared to 2022. Meanwhile, foreign trade is estimated to grow by 5% this year.

BLACKLINK is a Hong Kong-founded brand of premium NFC products to allow paperless business card and contact sharing.

CLUB DAO is the world’s first private business club designed for those that are active and interested in Web3, including cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology, NFTs, and the Metaverse.

Located in the Towngas flagship store in Causeway Bay, CulinArt 1862 is a new contemporary gastronomic concept that offers relaxed dining in a stylish dining room. The project is conducted in collaboration with Chef Stanley Wong.

Flexport is the end-to-end platform for global trade: Booking, tracking and delivery of freight shipments from the factory floor to the customer’s door. Flexport enables real-time communication and data-backed decision-making.

ODEA! is a Hong Kong-based impact start-up focused on addressing the detrimental effects of plastic waste and fast fashion on the environment. ODEA! designs and engineers athleisure wear and accessories from post-consumer plastic bottles.

St. James’s Place is a FTSE 100 company with £148.4 billion in managed funds and offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai. SJP provides clients with face-to-face, one-to-one guidance to help them achieve their life goals.

A member of the PUMA Group, stichd is a licensee headquartered in the Netherlands and with a global presence in multiple countries. Hong Kong hosts the regional APAC headquarters for stichd with local subsidiaries in the major Asian markets.

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

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is not only an international hub for trading, logistics, and financial services, but also strives to become a global centre for the fine arts industry. With HK$125 billion in value added in 2021, the cultural and creative industries generated 4.5% of Hong Kong’s total GDP while employing 6.2% of the total labour force.

Hong Kong’s major cultural infrastructure development, the West Kowloon Cultural District, has been shaping up in the last two years with the flagship openings of M+ Museum (pictured) and Hong Kong Palace Museum. In March 2023, British auction house Phillips opened its new Asia headquarters in the WKCDA Tower adjacent to M+.

Meanwhile, Sotheby’s is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Asia this year. During a weeklong series of evening sales in April, the American auction house achieved a combined total of HK$3.7 billion (US$472 million) with bidding from nearly 60 countries, particularly Greater China, the US, and Singapore.

Christie’s 2023 Hong Kong Spring Auctions between 24 May and 1 June likewise drew international participation from 48 countries and reached HK$3 billion (US$386 million) in sales. According to the British auction house, 27 records were set during the auctions with 61 lots selling for over HK$10 million.