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.
香港經貿處與香港旅發局合辦新春酒會慶祝馬年
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）與香港旅遊發展局（加拿大）（旅發局）於二月十二日在多倫多合辦農曆新春酒會，邀請逾150位嘉賓同慶馬年。商界、文化界、學術界及社區賢達聚首一堂，了解香港最新的經濟和文化發展。
香港經貿處處長王國彪在酒會上致歡迎辭時表示，香港於二○二五年取得令人鼓舞的成果，在經濟發展上持續展現動力。
他表示，「一國兩制」繼續是香港繁榮穩定的基石，穩健法治和普通法制度廣獲國際認同。過去一年，國際資金持續流入，多國企業在港擴展業務，二○二五年恒生指數錄得約三成升幅，香港在首次公開招股集資額領先全球，資產及財富管理業務和銀行存款亦持續增長，充分反映國際社會對香港營商環境的信心。
王國彪表示，展望馬年，香港將繼續發揮自身優勢，把握新機遇，並深化與加拿大各界別的交流合作，進一步鞏固其作為全球商業及文化樞紐的地位。
他說：「金融及創科將是香港兩大增長引擎。金融方面，香港正進一步發揮『超級聯繫人』的角色，協助內地企業走向全球，同時積極拓展與中東、東南亞及中亞等市場的合作。」
創科方面，香港正集中發展人工智能、生物科技、金融科技，以及新能源與新材料等具競爭優勢的領域。他指出，北部都會區將成為推動創科發展的關鍵平台。他說：「香港特別行政區政府正加快該區建設，包括放寬規劃限制，採用更具彈性的發展模式，從而實現土地綁定產業的融合發展。」
在酒會上，旅發局市場推廣及公共關係高級經理李喬治向與會者介紹香港即將舉行的盛事和節慶活動，藉此展示香港作為亞洲盛事之都的形象。
為增添文化色彩，香港經貿處特別邀請香港無伴奏合唱團Brio Singers於酒會上獻唱多首以香港為主題的歌曲，展現香港表演藝術的創意與活力。
香港經貿處與旅發局亦將於二月十八日在溫哥華合辦新春酒會。
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