Blog

A Super Week in Super March

During the past week, Hong Kong was brimming with energy and vibrancy as leading figures from various sectors and communities – including finance, commerce, investment, wealth management, family office owners and managers, as well as artists, art lovers, elite athletes and sport spectators – came together. Many places in the city were packed with people and traffic.

The Hong Kong Sevens, concluding today after three consecutive days, have elevated the festive atmosphere to an entirely new level. The Kai Tak Sports Park, which was opened earlier this month, has provided a larger venue and world-class facilities for the tightly packed and exciting events. With strong support from the Government and coordinated promotional efforts from various sectors, this year's event is projected to achieve a record-breaking attendance of 140,000 people. The venue's 60+ corporate boxes have already been sold out. Numerous corporate executives who travelled to Hong Kong to attend financial events this week have expressed their eagerness to catch the matches and participate in other cultural events after a series of intensive business meetings. They all want to experience the vibrancy and diversity of Hong Kong.

Beyond the venue, areas such as Tsim Sha Tsui, Central and Wan Chai have welcomed many residents and tourists who watched the matches at restaurants and bars, enjoying drinks and cheering together. This has connected people and sparked exchanges, allowing people to better appreciate the charm of this dynamic city.

I took part in the events and immersed myself in the vibrant atmosphere. I paid a visit to Art Basel at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, which was bustling with guests from around the world, as well as residents who brought their children and teachers who accompanied students to appreciate the art on display. The organisers anticipate that the five-day exhibition will attract more participants than last year's total of 75,000.

This year's Art Basel features 240 galleries from 42 countries and regions, with more than 20 galleries from Europe, Australia, Central America and Africa making their debut. A gallery owner from Europe told me that they have been participating in Art Basel Hong Kong for several years. He believes that this event is a great opportunity to connect with art lovers and buyers from Asia and around the world, serving as a vital platform to deepen their ties with this region and the international market. Many galleries have also reported impressive sales this year, with some artworks already sold out during the preview.

Engaging with a gallery director from Europe at Art Basel.

Some teachers brought their students to the art fair to appreciate artwork.

Appreciating different works at the art fair.

Equally successful was the recently concluded ComplexCon, a global pop culture festival which recorded a total attendance of 35,000 people this year, reflecting a 16% year-on-year growth. Related products and specialty merchandise were highly sought after, and the lively atmosphere encouraged extensive consumer spending, with total sales exceeding $87 million during the three-day event.

Delivering a speech at the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit last Wednesday.

Giving a speech at the Milken Institute Global Investors' Symposium last Monday.

In addition to cultural, sports and art events, a series of large-scale financial conferences were held last week, including the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit organised by the Government, as well as various summits hosted by different financial, academic, media and international organisations. These activities attracted thousands of business and financial representatives, family offices, international organisations and academics from various regions. In addition to delivering keynote speeches at these events, I participated in multiple panel discussions and dinner receptions. Through these interactions, international guests were able to better understand Hong Kong's latest developments, as well as the economic conditions and development directions of the Mainland. The exchanges also provided us with valuable insights into their perspectives, ideas and concerns.

During my interactions with these international guests, one consistent piece of feedback was that Hong Kong has regained its vitality and energy, and that they are increasingly positive and optimistic about the city. In particular, the atmosphere in the financial markets has notably improved since the start of this year, with a rising stock market, a significant increase in transaction volumes, and more active fundraising activities for new stocks. Coupled with continuous breakthroughs and innovations in our country in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence as well as in the cultural and creative industries, international investors are reassessing both Hong Kong and the Mainland's financial markets. They are increasing their investment allocations in this region, and hope to use Hong Kong as a platform to explore more investment opportunities in the Mainland and beyond.

Attending a fireside chat session at the Bloomberg Family Office Summit last Thursday.

Attending a fireside chat session at the HSBC Global Investment Summit last Tuesday.

Last Friday, I attended and spoke at the One Earth Summit organised by the Institute of Sustainability and Technology.

Hong Kong's "Super March" has drawn an influx of visitors, fuelled by the momentum of high-profile events held across the city. As at last Friday, visitor arrivals in Hong Kong in March reached 3.4 million – a 12% year-on-year increase – including about 960,000 visitors. According to the hospitality sector, occupancy rates of hotels in prime districts was near 90%. The retail sector has also reported a marked increase in foot traffic, which benefits business.

Building on this momentum, Hong Kong will further leverage the "mega event economy" by curating high-impact, thematically focused events, summits and exhibitions designed to attract global high-value business travellers and unlock cross-industry opportunities. Concurrently, we will strengthen cross-sector partnerships to empower businesses in delivering innovative offerings and elevating customer experiences, thereby ensuring that our city thrives as a dynamic hub where people, business opportunities and joy converge.

March 30, 2025