January - February 2009
Chief Executive Announces New Measures to Tackle Financial Crisis
In January, Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced a series of measures to cope with the expected wave of staff layoffs and company closures after the Lunar New Year, and to assist graduates who will be entering the labor market in the middle of the year.
Financial Secretary Unveils Budget Measures
On February 26, Financial Secretary John C. Tsang announced in the 2009-10 budget a multi-pronged strategy to combat the fallout of the global financial crisis. There are three principles that guided the Financial Secretary in preparing this year's budget: to create jobs and support employment; to increase overall competitiveness; and to facilitate a return to economic growth.
Hong Kong Ranked World's Freest Economy for 15th Consecutive Year
Hong Kong has been ranked as the world's freest economy for the 15th consecutive year in the 2009 "Index of Economic Freedom," jointly published by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.
Hong Kong Commissioner Visits State Government and Business Leaders
Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, Donald Tong made his first official visits to the states of Massachusetts, Illinois and Georgia in February, meeting with government officials and business leaders.
Hong Kong and Shenzhen Governments to Support Joint R&D Projects
The Hong Kong and Shenzhen governments will jointly provide funding for eight applied research and development (R&D) projects under the category of Hong Kong-Shenzhen co-funded projects of the Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme.
Braving the Financial Crisis with Good Governance
Over the years, Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has observed that companies with sound risk management and good governance are more likely to survive in bad times and recover at a faster pace.
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