Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto)

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO) welcomed over 150 guests and friends to a spring reception jointly hosted with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (Canada) (HKTB) on February 12 in Toronto to celebrate the Year of the Horse. Guests from the business, cultural, academic and community sectors gathered to exchange views and learn about Hong Kong’s latest developments on the economic and cultural fronts.

In his welcoming remarks, the Director of the HKETO, Mr Bill Wong, said that Hong Kong achieved a series of encouraging results in 2025, reflecting the city’s continued momentum in economic development.

He said that the “one country, two systems” principle continues to be the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s prosperity, with the robust rule of law and common law system internationally recognised. Over the past year, international confidence has been reflected in sustained capital inflows, expansion by multinational companies, a roughly 30 per cent rise in the Hang Seng Index in 2025, leading the world in initial public offering fundraising, and continued growth in asset and wealth management as well as bank deposits.

Looking ahead to the Year of the Horse, Mr Wong said that Hong Kong will continue to build on its strengths, seize new opportunities, and deepen engagement with various sectors in Canada, reinforcing its role as a global business and cultural hub.

“Finance and innovation and technology (I&T) are two major engines driving Hong Kong’s growth. In finance, Hong Kong is further strengthening its role as a ‘super connector’ - helping Mainland enterprises go global while actively fostering closer ties with markets in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Central Asia,” he said.

In I&T, Hong Kong is focusing on AI, biotech, fintech, and new energy and new materials, which are areas where it has a competitive edge. He said that the Northern Metropolis will serve as a key platform for driving I&T development. “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is accelerating development in the area, including easing planning restrictions and adopting more flexible development models with a view to driving deep integration of land use and industry development.”

At the reception, Senior Manager of Marketing and Public Relations of the HKTB Mr Jorge Lee shared with participants the upcoming events and festivals in Hong Kong, positioning Hong Kong as the events capital in Asia.

To add a cultural dimension to the celebration, the HKETO invited a Hong Kong a cappella group, Brio Singers, to present a series of Hong Kong-themed songs, showcasing the creativity and dynamism of Hong Kong’s performing arts scene.

The HKETO and the HKTB will jointly host another spring reception in Vancouver on February 18.