Hong Kong Celebrates New Year with Economic Growth Highlights at Berlin Reception

HKETO Berlin welcomes Year of Horse

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin), in collaboration with Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, hosted a Chinese New Year reception in Berlin, Germany on February 26 (Berlin time).

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Guests from the political, business and cultural sectors of Germany attended the reception. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows (from left) the Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, Ms Tang Xiaoyan; the Envoy of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, Mr Zeng Fanhua; the Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong; the Regional Director, Europe, Central Asia and Israel of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Chris Lo; the Director General of German Global Trade Forum Berlin, Mr Eberhard Trempel; and the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of HKETO Berlin, Dr Kim Zietlow. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows the Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong (fourth right), with local guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows young Hong Kong artists performing at the reception. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Director of the HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong, delivers his welcome remarks at the reception. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The reception brought together esteemed guests from various sectors, including government officials, ambassadors to Germany, business leaders, and media representatives, to celebrate the Year of the Horse. In his welcome remarks, the Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Indiana Wong, highlighted Hong Kong’s robust economic growth and strong performance in the capital market over the past year.

“In 2025, Hong Kong’s GDP grew by 3.5 per cent. Our city also regained its position as the world’s leading initial public offering fundraising hub, raising more than EUR 30 billion from over 110 new listings. Building on this success, Hong Kong will continue to advance with vitality and strength in the year ahead.”

Mr Wong also introduced the innovative measures highlighted in the 2026-27 Budget delivered on February 25 (Hong Kong time). These measures aim to promote diversified development and international co-operation, particularly by leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths in innovation and technology and finance. Various preferential policies, including land grant arrangements, financial subsidies and tax incentives, will facilitate the development of overseas and Mainland enterprises in Hong Kong. As an international trade centre with a strategic geographical location, comprehensive infrastructure and a full range of professional services, Hong Kong will continue to play an important role in global trade.

Mr Wong also highlighted that a record-high number of 11 000 overseas companies were located in Hong Kong in 2025, representing an increase of 11 per cent over the previous year. The “Go Global” initiative, in which Hong Kong serves as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, will continue to support Chinese Mainland enterprise in expanding globally and closely connecting with the rest of the world.

Mr Wong also further took the opportunity to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, and Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for cultural exchange and innovation and technology collaboration. The reception featured an energetic freestyle football performance by two young artists from Hong Kong, which captivated the local guests.

About HKETO Berlin

HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Government departments conduct joint enforcement operation during mega event

During a mega event held on February 28 and today (March 1), a joint enforcement operation with the Hong Kong Customs (Customs), the Immigration Department (ImmD), the Hong Kong Police Force (Police), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) was conducted to combat the sale of infringing goods by mobile hawkers, illegal worker, unlicensed hawkers and illegal hawking activities in the vicinity of the Kai Tak Sports Park.

During the operation, Customs officers conducted test-buy operations and suspected that four mobile hawkers were visitors taking up employment or establishing or joining in business in Hong Kong. The four mobile hawkers were subsequently arrested by ImmD officers on suspicion of being illegal workers. The arrested illegal workers were two men and two women, aged 22 to 49.

Customs, the ImmD, the Police, the FEHD and the LCSD will continue to step up high-profile patrol and enforcement to resolutely combat different kinds of illegal activities in the vicinity of the event venues during mega events.

Customs reminds consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any infringing goods commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years. Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, or establish or join in any business without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties. For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.

FEHD reminds the public that, under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Chapter 132), no one may sell goods on the street unless they hold a valid hawker license issued by the department. Offenders will be prosecuted and, the maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of HK$10,000 and imprisonment for six months. The goods and equipment involved will be seized and confiscated. Furthermore, if unlicensed hawkers’ activities obstruct public spaces, offenders will also be prosecuted under the Summary Offences Ordinance (Chapter 228), and upon conviction, are liable to a maximum fine of HK$25,000 or imprisonment for three months.