HKETO San Francisco hosts gala dinner and receptions for SAR's 25th anniversary in California, Washington, Texas

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (HKETO San Francisco) hosted a series of events in September, including a gala dinner in San Francisco in California on September 12 (San Francisco time), as well as receptions in Seattle in Washington and Houston in Texas on September 15 and 21 respectively. The events were attended by close to 300 guests, including consulate general representatives, local officials and members of academia and business as well as community leaders.

Delivering welcome remarks at the events, the Director of HKETO San Francisco, Ms Jacko Tsang, said, "Our 25th anniversary carries the theme 'A New Era - Stability • Prosperity • Opportunity'. The theme not only captures Hong Kong's impressive achievements over the past two and a half decades, but also underscores our eager anticipation for and confidence in a brighter future."

She pointed out that Hong Kong has made significant progress in various areas in the past 25 years. "We continue to be the premier international business and trade center in Asia. Notably, we remain the undefeated champion, ranking number one in the world, in economic freedom in the past 25 years. Compared to 1997, our economy has more than doubled in size. Our airport cargo throughput increased by almost three times, making us the world's busiest air cargo hub last year," she said.

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Algernon Yau, delivered a pre-recorded keynote speech at the events.

Yau said that the foundation of Hong Kong's unique advantages is "one country, two systems", the political, economic and social arrangement enshrined in the Basic Law, which has been implemented since Hong Kong's return to the motherland 25 years ago. Since then, Hong Kong has continued to grow and evolve, impressing the world with its vitality and dazzling East-meets-West culture.

Speaking on the way forward, he said Hong Kong is ready to embrace a new era of opportunities emerging from development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and closer integration with the Mainland's economy.

Aside from the GBA opportunities, the Central Government also supports Hong Kong to enhance its status as an international financial center, an international transportation center, an international trade center and a center for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, Yau added.

He also stressed that Hong Kong will establish and develop the "four emerging centers" of international aviation, international innovation and technology (I&T), regional intellectual property (IP) trading, and arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world. As a result, Hong Kong is sparing no effort in pressing ahead with the development of rising sectors, including I&T and IP trading as well as arts and culture.

Concluding each event was a violin recital by promising Hong Kong violinist Hannah Tam who, at the age of 17, has already garnered distinctive international accolades, including the Third Prize and the Audience Prize at the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists Junior Division 2021.