HKETO Newsroom

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, visited Vancouver from October 4 to 7 for business promotion and talent attraction.

Speaking at the 2023 Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs (ACCE) West Coast Gala on October 5, Ms Mo updated more than 300 guests from the business sector that Hong Kong under the “one country, two systems” framework continued to be recognized as the world’s top international financial centre, wealth-management centre and the largest offshore Renminbi hub.  

“With the launch of different ‘Connect Schemes’ between Mainland China and Hong Kong bringing together the capital markets and investors of the Mainland China and the world,” Ms Mo said. “Hong Kong has much to offer for the financial co-operation between Canada, Indo-Pacific and well beyond.”

Mr Mo remarked that Hong Kong’s future is built on innovation and technology.  “Our strengths include excellent scientific research, intellectual property rights protection and financial services, while our neighbouring cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (the Greater Bay Area) are strong in tech innovation, commercialisation and manufacturing,” she said.

Noting that Canada and Hong Kong have a common goal to develop green economy, Ms Mo stressed that there is a strong and fast-growing green technology ecosystem in Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area. “Hong Kong is Asia’s first in green financing.  Canadian companies thriving in this area may also look for funding and scale-up opportunities in Hong Kong,” she added.

Before closing, Ms Mo introduced that Hong Kong had completed the West Kowloon Cultural District attracting all sorts of cultural programmes, businesses and talents. With the resumption of free travel this year, and the launch of the “Hello Hong Kong” and “Hong Kong Night Vibes” campaigns, Ms Mo invited the gala guests to visit Hong Kong and experience all the new developments and opportunities in this Asia’s world city.

Early upon arrival in Vancouver on October 4, Ms Mo attended two talent attraction sessions hosted by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Vancouver Section) in collaboration with the HKETO and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) Canada.  She met with some 100 students from the University of British Columbia and the Simon Fraser University and promoted on the excellent work environment and job opportunities for overseas university graduates in Hong Kong.

Ms Mo also elaborated the various facilitation measures launched to attract global talents to develop their careers and settle in Hong Kong. In particular, she mentioned the Hong Kong-Canada Talent Metaverse (www.kumospace.com/hktalentmetaverse), an interactive virtual platform for young talents to interact with Hong Kong employers who have put up job opportunities on the platform.  Other speakers joining the events shared their insightful firsthand and exciting experiences working in Hong Kong with the students.

Ms Mo also highlighted the recruitment exercise of civil servants for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government from overseas. She encouraged eligible students to grasp the chance to work in the public service and apply for the Common Recruitment Examinations which will take place on December 2 in Vancouver and Toronto respectively.  

On October 6, Ms Mo met with a Hong Kong delegation comprising of student ambassadors and the Board of Directors from the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in Hong Kong. She noted the close ties between Hong Kong and Canada, and introduced to the visiting students the role and important work of HKETO across Canada for business and cultural promotion as well as student exchanges.

During the 4-day duty visit, Ms Mo had various meetings with the senior management of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, Chinatown Storytelling Centre, Chinese Canadian Museum and Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden to update them on the latest developments in Hong Kong.  Ms Mo returned to Toronto in the afternoon of October 7.