The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, thanks to EU funding, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council are jointly hosting a seminar on “European investment in China via Hong Kong” on 22 May 2012 to discuss the role of Hong Kong as a gateway for investment in China.

Celebrate the two greatest rugby teams in the world at a one-off ‘Year To Go’ lunch to honour the British & Irish Lions against the Barbarians in Hong Kong. Prices have now been reduced. Please see the attached flyer and booking form.

The Irish Chamber 2012 recruitment overview event will focus on current recruitment trends in Asia. We hear of retrenchment and uncertainty in the investment banking sector. Is this true of all parts of the financial services? The increased spotlight of Europe and the US on Asia has led to increased opportunities in professional services, and also a growth of management roles in industry. So are technology, industry and the professions hot again?

On 9th June 2012 the first Open platform Irish Dancing Feis in Asia will be held in Hong Kong. This is an event where Irish dancers from all associations can come together to celebrate Irish dancing. There will be an adjudicator from the WIDA (World Irish Dancing Association) travelling over especially to adjudicate this event about 60-70 kids competing. For full details, please go to http://www.echoesirishdance.com/pages/view/feiseanna

We are happy that Mr Tsang has accepted the invitation of the Hong Kong business community to talk at this joint dinner to be held on Friday, 15 June, 2012.  At this dinner, not only will the business community have the opportunity to show their deepest appreciation for all the efforts of Mr Tsang over the years on steering Hong Kong to prosper, even in the face of sharp economic contraction overseas, participants will also be able to learn more from Mr Tsang about his past work and insight on the future development of Hong Kong, as well as his plan in the future.

Companies wishing to reserve a table (HK$12,000 for 10 pax) will have priority on prime table locations, clients and guests. For details on table sponsorship, please contact Winnie Cheung at telephone number 2823 1255.  Please use the attached booking form to book your seats.

Recently, InvestHK has increasingly supported smaller, entrepreneur-led businesses to set up and expand in Hong Kong.  However, at the same time, some of the world's largest companies are now choosing to put not just regional offices, but certain global functions here.  Mr. Simon Galpin will give an update on which source markets these investors are from and which sectors they are in. He would also like to take this opportunity to seek chamber members’ views on the various support schemes that are available to non-Chinese speaking entrepreneurs in HK.

Ireland is one of the main gateways for investments into the European Union. It is also one of the leading global FDI destinations in certain key sectors such as Pharmaceuticals, Financial Services and TMT whose attractions include a highly qualified workforce, stable business environment, a competitive cost base and low tax regime. In cooperation with the Irish Investment and Development Agency, we will take you through the advantages of setting up an activity in Ireland, the different structures to optimize your investments in Ireland and the EU.

Topics:

– Irish business environment

– Industry update – TMT, Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services

– Irish tax system

– Latest updates from the Irish Finance Bill 2012

– Holding Company structures

– IP structures

– Financing structures including leasing

Speakers:

Enwright De Sales, Managing Director, Asia Pacific International Core of Excellence, Ireland Tax Services, Deloitte AP ICE, Limited

Enwright has an extensive background in Irish and Indian domestic and international tax issues. He also has significant experience working with multinational companies dealing with inbound and outbound tax issues including global tax minimization, tax efficient financing, tax efficient repatriation, Indian exchange control legislation, Indian foreign direct investment regulation and corporate laws and local country taxation. He covers sectors such as Media, Hospitality, IT, Pharmaceuticals, Consumer business and Infrastructure. Enwright is a founder member of the Ireland India Business Association and also served as its Deputy Chairman from 2008 to 2011.

Brian Conroy, Director - Asia Pacific, Investment and Development Agency Ireland, Shanghai Office

Brian Conroy is the Director, Asia-Pacific for IDA Ireland, the Irish Government Agency charged with attracting Foreign Direct Investment into Ireland. Based in IDA Ireland’s offices in Shanghai, Brian has over 20 years of experience in the public and private sector working with many of the world leading MNC’s across a range of industry sectors such as Financial Services, Information and Communications Technologies and Life Sciences.

Registration is free of charge.  Click below to register for the seminar (Event code: 180412_Ireland):

http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_CN/cn/cn-events/d80eb50863e26310VgnVCM2000001b56f00aRCRD.htm?oper=REG

You will receive an acknowledgement from the registration site. Seat availability is subject to final confirmation.

Should you have specific questions that you would like to raise out at the workshop, please feel free to send an email to Eric Wang.

The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong through its European Union Business Information Programme will host a Breakfast Discussion on the “Sovereign Debt Crisis in Greece and Europe”, on the occasion of the visit of Dr. Constantine A. Papadopoulos, Secretary-General, International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation, Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Given the role of Greece in the context of the economic and financial crisis in the EU, we expect Mr. Papadopoulos’s visit to generate a wide interest from the business community, media, financial institutions and others.

If you are interested in attending, please complete the attached registration form and return it to pandora.sze@eurocham.com.hk.

The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong through its European Union Business Information Programme and the Chinese European Arbitration Centre, the Hamburg based dispute resolution organization focusing on Sino-Western disputes, will jointly organize the first “WORKSHOP DAY AT THE EUROPEAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG” on the 26^th of March 2012, 08:30am – 02:05pm.

Please join us on this half-day event which will comprise of two main workshops as follows:

• Workshop 1: Managing International Arbitration between Greater China and Europe
• Workshop 2: Managing Intellectual Property Issues between Greater China and Europe

In addition to Q&A sessions after each presentation and extensive networking opportunities during the breaks, the participants will have the opportunity to sign up for IPR and Arbitration Clinics, one-on-one, 10-minute consultation sessions with one of the experts to discuss their own issues.

Seats are limited; Kindly ask interested parties to register by sending back the attached Registration Form (page 2 and 3), before Thursday, 22nd of March 2012 to secure your place.

For more information on the event click here:  http://www.eurocham.com.hk/events.html?task=view&id=97%22

Please contact pandora.sze@eurocham.com.hk with any questions.

TICKETS ARE NOW SOLD OUT FOR THIS EVENT.