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| Consul General Romulo Israel and HK Financial Secretary Paul Chan toast to an even better ties between the Philippines and Hong Kong |
Officials have hailed
the deepening relations between the Philippines and Hong Kong at a reception
held last night at Island Shangri-la to celebrate the 127th
anniversary of Philippine Independence.
Newly installed Philippine Consul General Romulo M. Israel led consulate officers and staff in welcoming about 200 guests from the Filipino community, the diplomatic corps, business associates and Hong Kong government officials headed by Financial Secretary Paul Chan.
Congen Israel, who assumed his post only last month, cited a number of historical events that tied the Philippines to Hong Kong, including how the Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, used to live and hold clinic in Central and how the first Philippine flag was sewn in Wanchai.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
More recent events showed those ties have deepened, with the presence of more than 230,000 Filipino migrants in Hong Kong, and the record arrival in the city of nearly 1.2 million tourists from the Philippines, which according to Israel, broke pre-pandemic records.
On top of this, Hong Kong has remained as the Philippines’ largest trading partner, with the value of the goods that passed on between the two territories growing to $1.8 billion.
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| PH and HK officials pose for photos at the Philippine Independence Day Reception |
Chan elaborated on the statistics provided by Chan, saying that tourist arrivals from the Philippines last year was 55% more than in 2023. In the first five months of the current year, over 550,000 Filipinos have visited Hong Kong, representing a 27 percent increase, year-on-year.
He said trade ties between the two administrations could grow even more, given the current uncertainties in policies by the governments in the United States and elsewhere.
“In an era marked by rising protectionism and increasing geopolitical uncertainty, globalisation is facing backlashes. Countries are seeking to diversify their export markets and development drivers. In this context, enhancing intra-regional trade and collaboration will be key to achieving sustainable growth,” he said.
He added that under the “one country, two systems” policy, Hong Kong is regarded as a “super connector and super value-adder” between mainland China and the rest of the world, and the Philippines as one of fastest growing economies in ASEAN could benefit from this.
Chan also said Hong Kong has emerged as a safe harbor for international capital, and offers an ideal platform for Philippine businesses to raise funds for further development through listing on the city’s stock exchange, connecting with angel investors, and collaborating with other enterprises
“In short, the potential for deeper co-operation between our two economies is vast and far-reaching,” said Chan.
The speeches were sealed with a toast by officials from both governments.
Also among the guests were Chinese Deputy Commissioner at the Ministry of Foreign Affairsj Pan Yundong and Hong Kong Secretary for Labour Chris Chan.
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| The SUN editor Daisy CL Mandap and publisher Leo A Deocadiz receive the 'Made It In China" award from Congen Israel |
The second part of the program featured entertainment numbers from various Filipino artists and the awarding of plaques and certificates to Filipinos in Hong Kong who “Made it in China,” including The SUN editor, lawyer and migrants rights advocate Daisy CL Mandap.
Also receiving their awards from Congen Israel were TV news anchor Melissa Gecolea, lawyer Jaerey Velasco, radio host Michael Vincent Benares, and the Divas cricket team.
All of the awardees also received copies of a book detailing the achievements of the various honorees from across China, Hong Kong and Macau, and each with a personal dedication from Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime Florcruz.
