The next InterCham YP-Cocktail is organised by the Japanese  Chamber, the Swedish Chamber and the Danish Chamber and will take place on Wednesday 15 February at Prive. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the The Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children. For more info www.hkspc.org.

If you are interested in attending please e-mail events@irishchamber.hk before 20 January (next Friday).

The Financial Secretary, the Honourable John Tsang, will deliver the 2012-2013 Budget Speech at the Legislative Council on Wednesday, 1 February 2012.

We are deeply honoured that Mr. Tsang has accepted our invitation to talk to the Hong Kong business community on 22 February. It will be an excellent and timely opportunity to learn directly from Mr. Tsang his further elaboration on this year’s budget and how he would lead us for dealing with the global financial crisis and sustaining the economic prosperity for future growth of Hong Kong.

Companies wishing to sponsor a table (HK$7,300 for 10-12 pax) will have priority on prime location for their company, clients and guests. For details on table sponsorship, please contact Winnie Cheung at Tel 2823 1255.

Only limited seats are available. Book now on our website to avoid disappointment!

The 5^th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) to be held on 16 and 17 January 2012 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The lingering sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone has a profound impact on the global economy.  Against this backdrop of uncertainties, now is the time to take a closer look at the future of the Asian economy, in particular the challenges faced by and the new horizons for enterprises in the region.  AFF 2012 will focus on whether and how the Asian economy could provide fresh impetus to world recovery, and what strategies Hong Kong companies should adopt in this new economic order.

We are delighted to announce that the 2011 Irish Chamber Christmas drinks will take place at Kila on Pottinger Street on 8 December starting at 7 p.m.  We look forward to seeing many of our members and friends there.

Hosted by HKTDC, the Hong Kong Forum is the annual flagship event of the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide (www.hkfederation.org.hk), a unique global network of more than 11,000 members from 33 associations in 24 countries. Last year’s Hong Kong Forum attracted nearly 400 Federation members from around the world, all of whom have strong interest in doing business with Hong Kong. For the first time, members of the Irish Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong are invited to register for the Forum.

We would like to invite you to The 48th InterCham Young Professionals Cocktails, a fabulous evening of networking and socializing. This popular event will provide a great opportunity to meet and get to know a large and diverse group of Hong Kong-based young professionals from across the world.  This lead sponsor of this event is Robert Walters.

This is the first time in a number of years that the Irish Chamber has been involved in the running of the event so we are hoping for a good turnout.  Tickets cost HK$180 (members) and HK$270 (non-members).

The Irish Chamber and the South African Women's Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong are delighted to welcome Nora Sperling Thiel from Delheim Winery, Stellenbosch, South Africa to Hong Kong.   Nora will talk about sustainable wine growing and their companies holistic approach to community and land, to wine making and to enduring good business practices. Their aim has always been to nurture a strong culture of sustainable development on the farm and within the community.

Overlooking Cape Town with a splendid view of Table Mountain, Delheim lies on the slopes of the Simonsberg mountain in the Stellenbosch district. The original farm, Driesprongh, was founded in 1699.

The HKSAR Chief Executive the Honourable Donald Tsang will deliver his policy address to the Legislative Council in mid-October 2011.

We are delighted that Mr Tsang has accepted an invitation to talk to the business community at a joint luncheon which to be held on Wednesday, 2 November 2011.  At this luncheon, the business community will be able to hear Mr Tsang’s further elaboration on his policy address.  We will also be able to learn more from Mr Tsang about the initiatives and directives on tackling issues about housing, ageing population and wealth gap, in the year ahead.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague, is visiting Hong Kong  at the end of the month in connection with the IDA 2011 Congress and Dublin's candidature for World Design Capital 2014.  We have organised a lunch event with him on 28 October at the Foreign Correspondents Club. The ticket price is HK$350, which includes a set lunch at the FCC.  THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT.

In this comprehensive workshop, taxation experts, Sébastien Gonnet, NERA Economic Consulting (Beijing) and Kari Pahlman, Partner, KPMG Hong Kong, will offer an overview of the concepts and theory behind transfer pricing and will address the potential obstacles and difficulties that MNCs might come across when defining their corporate transfer pricing strategy.