Throughout all these years, the people of Israel have transformed an agricultural kibbutz society into a start-up nation, with innovations and technologies that benefit our country and the world. For Hong Kong, this also offers the best opportunity of collaboration, especially in the areas of investment, Fintech, biotechnology and smart city development.

Israel and Hong Kong can complement each other. While Israel is strong on research capabilities and advanced technologies, Hong Kong is a leading global financial centre that also offers an ideal platform for new opportunities under China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the scheme of Greater Bay Area. Last September, Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan paid his first official visit to Israel, with a Hong Kong business delegation, to have a first-hand look at Israel’s major technological development and to strengthen our business and economic ties. 

Many other Hong Kong delegations also visited Israel to explore in the past year - government officials, business and investment companies, professional organizations, universities and schools, media and cultural groups.  

In fact, there was a 400% increase in the number of tourists from Hong Kong to Israel in the past two years from February 2017. Hong Kong people are visiting holy places and unique attractions like the Dead Sea in Israel, and taking part in special events such as the Jerusalem Marathon. 

Israel and Hong Kong are different, yet we have a lot in common. For one thing, women are taking more significant role in many aspects of our lives. The lack of natural resources has made people learn to focus on human capital. Both old civilizations, the Jewish and Chinese cultures embrace the importance of education and family values that are central in women’s development and social roles.

As a new approach to engage more people through dialogue, we are bringing five outstanding Israeli women, each expert in their own fields of technology and entrepreneurship, medical sciences, and finance and economy, to Hong Kong at the forum “Israel-Hong Kong Women-to-Women Bridge”. This forum, to be held at Asia Society Hong Kong Centre at the end of this month, serves as a platform to connect generations of women and men from Israel and Hong Kong to celebrate, and be inspired and empowered by women.

All these visits and exchanges bring Israel, Hong Kong and Asia closer. We are truly thankful to our friends and partners for their continuous support of Israel.  

A few days earlier at the memorial ceremony of Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day being held in Hong Kong, six candles were lit in memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. 

Antisemitism and racism did not disappear after the Holocaust. Actually, violence against Jews has tripled in the last year.

The Jewish Community in Hong Kong, the largest one in Asia with over 100 years of history and connection in Hong Kong, and the big Israeli business community are fortunate to feel safe and respected living in this city. We should continue to stress the importance of education and remembrance for the next generations. 

While in Israel, millions of our citizens face the rocket onslaught by the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organizations, even on the eve of our celebrations. Israel will continue protecting its citizens and ensuring their security – just as any democratic nation would do.

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