Amidst the continued economic recovery of Hong Kong, heightened geopolitical tensions, and soft growth of advanced economies, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po will deliver the 2024-25 Budget on Feb 28.

In preparation for this, the government conducted public consultations since Dec 17, when Chan said the upcoming budget will aim to foster stability through development and serve as a forward plan for the city’s long-term and sustainable growth.

Various stakeholders including lawmakers and major business organizations have made proposals for the budget, such as the removal of property market cooling measures and the reduction of stamp duty on stock trading.

Green Week

The first Hong Kong Green Week, which is set to kick off on Monday, will feature the three-day “Climate Business Forum: Asia Pacific” as its anchor event.

The Green Week will also include a series of high-level panels and roundtable discussions focused on green finance, energy transition, and green technology, attracting prominent figures from the global finance landscape,

Closed-loop operation

The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Guangdong province, will start closed-loop operation on March 1, with facilitating duty-free and bonded imports as one of its benefits for businesses within the zone. The move marks the implementation of a tax policy that “opens up the ‘first line’ while maintaining controls on the ‘second line’”.

With the closed-loop operation, the scope of bonded goods entering the cooperation zone through the “first line” will be expanded to cover all categories. Also, customs declaration procedures for some duty-free and bonded goods through the “first line” will be streamlined.

EV research center

Asia's "father of electric vehicles" Chan Ching-chuen, together with a team of EV experts, will officially launch an electric vehicle research center at Hong Kong Polytechnic University on Monday to address the technological challenges revolving around the modern EVs.

Local and international experts and scholars, including Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development Peter Major and President of the International Electrotechnical Commission Shu Yinbiao, will present their insights on EVs and the field of carbon neutrality at a forum.

Engineers Week Carnival

The Engineers Week Carnival, set to take place in Hong Kong from March 1 to 3 under the theme of "Be The Change, will help overcome misconceptions about the lives and careers of engineers, showcasing the daily professional work of engineers for the public.

This year’s carnival promises to offer a wide range of captivating displays and activities, including design competitions for elementary school students, professional competitions for engineering students from tertiary institutions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, career fairs, etc.