Economy
MICE rebounds in H1 2024 with 21 million visitors
                                                                                 
                    
                    Amongst overnight visitors, MICE arrivals accounted for 700,000 visitors.
                
                                
            MICE rebounds in H1 2024 with 21 million visitors
                                                                                                                 
                            
                            Amongst overnight visitors, MICE arrivals accounted for 700,000 visitors.
                        
                                                
                        
    
                    HK, Cambodia sign 13 MoUs to boost trade and investment
                                                                                                 
                        
                        The CE encourages Cambodian businesses to partner with Hong Kong.
                    
                                        
                    
                Retail sales value fall 9.7% YoY to $29.9b in June
                                                                                                 
                        
                        The government attributed the decline to changing consumption patterns.
                    
                                        
                    
                GDP increases 3.3% YoY in Q2, faster than Q1 growth
                                                                                                 
                        
                        In Q1, the economy grew by 2.8% YoY.
                    
                                        
                    
                Hong Kong exports up 10.7% in June
                                                                                                 
                        
                        Imports also rose by 9% to $429.2b.
                    
                                        
                    
                HK inks consultancy pact to build East Kowloon eco-transit system
                                                                                                 
                        
                        The green mass transit system will span 7 kilometers in total.
                    
                                        
                    
                Hong Kong hits record 1.44 million local companies in H1
                                                                                                 
                        
                        A total of 324 licenses were given out to trust or company service providers.
                    
                                        
                    
                Hong Kong employers increasingly hiring contract workers
                                                                                                 
                        
                        The demand is driven by transformation projects and demand for flexibility.
                    
                                        
                    
                Breadwinners burdened with finances of 3 dependents on average
                                                                                                 
                        
                        Over 1 in 2 respondents manages the finances of spouses and parents/ in-laws.
                    
                                        
                    
                Gov’t passes bill to boost social worker standards
                                                                                                 
                        
                        Secretary Sun emphasised the importance of social workers in national security.
                    
                                        
                    
                Hong Kong enacts 'patent box' tax concession
                                                                                                 
                        
                        This include offering a 5% tax rate on qualifying profits from patents.
                    
                                        
                    
                Hong Kong eyes low-altitude economy
                                                                                                 
                        
                        It will focus on developing Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technologies.
                    
                                        
                    
                Hong Kong enhances Deposit Protection Scheme
                                                                                                 
                        
                        It raises the protection limit from $500,000 to $800,000.
                    
                                        
                    
                Hong Kong IPO market slated for resurgence in H2
                                                                                                 
                        
                        PwC Hong Kong is “cautiously optimistic” for the market.
                    
                                        
                    
                Gov’t to to enhance trade services liberalisation with China
                                                                                                 
                        
                        The new measures will offer Hong Kong businesses more opportunities in China.
                    
                                        
                    
                New citizen travel card launched for Hong Kong & Macao permanent residents
                                                                                                 
                        
                        The card will begin getting issued on 10 July.
                    
                                        
                    
                Surge in exports to Mainland China boosts Hong Kong’s trade
                                                                                                 
                        
                        The trade forecast was revised upward from a maximum of 6% to 11% amidst export growth.
                    
                                        
                    
                 
            	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                	         
                             
                             
                     
                             
           
                                 
                                 
                                 
               
                                     
                                     
                                     
 
                                                                                                
                                                
                                                                                                                                         
 
                                                                                                
                                                
                                                                                                                                         
 
                                                                                                
                                                
                                                                                                                                         
 
                                                                                                
                                                
                                                                                                                                         
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                