Hong Kong’s annual events at the digital forefront

On January 11, 2021, esteemed jurists attended the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2021 at the Court of Final Appeal. With the Basic Law, a rich common law heritage and global connectivity, Hong Kong enjoys a world-wide reputation for its rule of law, strong legal fraternity and independent judiciary. In her opening speech, the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, reiterated that the Basic Law guarantees judicial independence, free from any interference, and highlighted the various initiatives taken by the Department of Justice, including the development of LawTech and facilitating the studies of pertinent legal issues stemming from the increasing use of emerging technology. The new Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, vowed in his speech to continue safeguarding the rule of law.

For the first time and due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 14th Asian Financial Forum was held on January 18 and 19, 2021 on a virtual platform. Under the theme “Reshaping World Economic Landscape”, the two-day forum offered a timely opportunity to foster dialogue and collaboration among participants to build more resilient, sustainable and innovative economies in face of the changing landscape shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, trade disputes, climate change and waves of technological advances. More than 5 000 influential global policymakers, financial experts, business leaders, economists, investors and entrepreneurs from some 70 countries and regions signed up to participate online for the first time to examine opportunities and challenges for finance, investment and business in the new global economic landscape.

Under the theme “Reviving trade: the way forward”, The Economist hosted the Asia Trade Week 2021 from February 22 to 25, 2021, bringing together an international audience to discuss the challenges that lie ahead of the global trade regime post COVID-19. The hybrid event brought together 1 670 delegates from some 80 countries for four days of rigorous discussion into the major factors that will shape the future of trade in Asia and beyond. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, shared his insights on the trade landscape under the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought an uneven impact on the trade in Hong Kong. Commodity trade has not been much affected but trade in services has taken a heavier toll. Some areas such as financial services and information and technology have achieved robust growth. Despite the unprecedented challenges the COVID-19 pandemic caused to the global trade system, Mr Yau reiterated that high-standard free trade agreements could strengthen the multilateral trading system, enhance regional trade co-operation and remove trade barriers.

The art and culture industry has been particularly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but this vital sector would not live up to its name if it had not come up with creative solutions. In pre-COVID days, the physical FILMART was a prominent launchpad for high-profile titles from Hong Kong and beyond. For the second time in a row, FILMART Online 2021 was hosted virtually from March 15 to 18, 2021 and attracted nearly 7 000 industry participants from 81 countries and regions, with the release and promotion of some 2 200 film and television productions. With the boom in streaming worldwide, FILMART 2021’s panel of experts talked about the role of internet platforms in shaping the industry’s future. The online format of FILMART proved effective in breaking geographical barriers, attracting new exhibitors and buyers who previously were not able to attend due to the event’s timing or the travelling time and cost involved.