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Manila Bulletin devider Embassies at Work devider Hong Kong highlights trade, cultural ties at Manila gala

Hong Kong highlights trade, cultural ties at Manila gala

Published Mar 23, 2026 07:09 am
Ruben Pascual, Secretary-General, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Parros Poon, President, Hongkong Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc.; Rhenita B. Rodriguez, Assistant Secretary, Office of International Economic Relations, Department of Foreign Affairs; Victor Lim, President, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.; Libera Cheng, Director-General, HKETO Jakarta; H.E. Jing Quan, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines; Elsa Hung, Director, HKETO Singapore; Hon. Maria Laarni Cayetano, Mayor of Taguig City; Leung Kwan-ho, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and South Asia, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC); and Vishnu Rajendran, Country Head, Philippines, Cathay Pacific, at the HKETO Chinese New Year Gala Dinner held at Grand Hyatt Manila.
Ruben Pascual, Secretary-General, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Parros Poon, President, Hongkong Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc.; Rhenita B. Rodriguez, Assistant Secretary, Office of International Economic Relations, Department of Foreign Affairs; Victor Lim, President, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.; Libera Cheng, Director-General, HKETO Jakarta; H.E. Jing Quan, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines; Elsa Hung, Director, HKETO Singapore; Hon. Maria Laarni Cayetano, Mayor of Taguig City; Leung Kwan-ho, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and South Asia, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC); and Vishnu Rajendran, Country Head, Philippines, Cathay Pacific, at the HKETO Chinese New Year Gala Dinner held at Grand Hyatt Manila.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore, together with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, recently hosted its Chinese New Year Gala Dinner in Manila, bringing together members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, and government officials to mark the Lunar New Year and reaffirm ties between Hong Kong and the Philippines.
Held at the Grand Hyatt Manila, the event gathered more than 200 guests, including Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, Taguig City Mayor Maria Laarni Cayetano, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Rhenita B. Rodriguez, and representatives from the business and academic sectors.
The evening opened with a traditional dragon and lion dance, setting a festive tone for a celebration that blended cultural tradition with economic diplomacy. A ceremonial toast of prosperity followed, reflecting shared hopes for growth and collaboration in the year ahead.
Elsa Hung, Director of HKETO Singapore, delivers the welcome remarks
Elsa Hung, Director of HKETO Singapore, delivers the welcome remarks
In her remarks, Elsa Hung, Director of HKETO Singapore, emphasized Hong Kong’s role as a key economic partner of the Philippines and its continued engagement with the region.
“Hong Kong continues to serve as a vital gateway for trade and investment in Asia,” Hung said, noting the city’s position as a “super connector” linking markets across the region.
She highlighted the strength of bilateral ties, pointing to sustained trade and people-to-people exchanges between Hong Kong and the Philippines. In recent years, the Philippines has remained one of Hong Kong’s key partners in Southeast Asia, with strong flows in trade, tourism, and business collaboration.
Leung Kwan-ho, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and South Asia of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), addresses guests
Leung Kwan-ho, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and South Asia of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), addresses guests
Leung Kwan-ho, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and South Asia of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, underscored the importance of regional cooperation in driving future growth.
“Collaboration across our region is the key to unlocking opportunities,” he said, pointing to the role of partnerships in advancing innovation and economic development.
Beyond the formal program, the gala also served as a platform for strengthening connections within Manila’s diplomatic and business community. Guests shared a banquet featuring traditional dishes associated with prosperity and abundance, while conversations reflected a broader interest in expanding trade and investment ties.
Cathay Pacific Country Head Philippines, Vishnu Rajendran with Lucky Draw Winne Anna Marie Alzona
Cathay Pacific Country Head Philippines, Vishnu Rajendran with Lucky Draw Winne Anna Marie Alzona
The highlight of the evening was a lucky draw, with a trip to Hong Kong for two as the grand prize—an apt symbol of the close links between the two economies and the continued movement of people and ideas between them.
The event forms part of Hong Kong’s broader engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where it continues to deepen economic cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration with partners such as the Philippines.
Marking the Lunar New Year, the gathering reflected a relationship that continues to evolve, shaped by trade, cultural exchange, and shared regional ambitions.
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