Hong Kong–Israel relations

Hong Kong–Israel relations

Hong Kong
Israel

Hong Kong–Israel relations refer to relations between Hong Kong and Israel. Israel has a consulate in Hong Kong, while Hong Kong is represented through the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in addition to the Chinese embassy in Tel Aviv.

History

In 1958, businessman Victor Zirinsky was appointed Israel’s Honorary Consul in Hong Kong and served in this capacity until Israel’s diplomatic presence was formally established in 1985, when a Consul General was appointed as a joint representative for Hong Kong and Macau.[1] Hong Kong's interest in tech start-ups has led to increasing ties between the countries. InvestHK, a department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, has stated it will help Israeli entrepreneurs set up operations in the city. Israeli start-ups enrolled in an accelerator program called StartMeUpHK that offers investments of $500,000, a trip to Hong Kong, mentorship programs with Asian business executives and admission to major tech events in the region.[2]

In 2015, Israel signed an agreement with Hong Kong to increase cooperation in technology and R&D. A new program was established for projects focusing on research and development in the industrial sector. In Hong Kong, entrepreneurs receive funding through the ESS (Enterprise Support Scheme) program, managed by the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF); in Israel, funding is granted by the Office of the Chief Scientist at the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry and the program is managed by the Office of the Chief Scientist, the Israeli Industry Center for Research and Development (MATIMOP).[3]

In 2013, Hong Kong billionaire, Li Ka-shing has donated $130 million to the Israeli Technion.[4]

Speaker of the Israeli parliament, Yuli Edelstein, traveled to Hong Kong in 2016 to strengthen ties between Israel and Hong Kong. He hailed the good ties between the two entities.[5]

Tourism

According to Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, who visited Israel in November 2016, Israel is Hong Kong's largest visitor source market in the Middle East. Some 64,000 Israelis traveled to Hong Kong in 2015.[6] Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's national airline, announced that it will inaugurate flights from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv in March 2017.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jewish Community of Hong Kong
  2. ↑ Israel and Hong Kong step up tech, R&D cooperation
  3. ↑ "Israel and Hong Kong step tech, R&D cooperation".
  4. ↑ "The Story Behind a HK Billionaire's $130 Million Donation to the Technion".
  5. ↑ "Hong Kong's links to Israel hailed as 'winning combination'".
  6. ↑ HK Secretary Gregory So visits Israel
  7. ↑ Cathay-Pacific to start flights from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv
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