Dear Members and Friends,

AustroCham cordially invites you to join our

“Fasching on Tram event”

Tour with an antique Tram through Hong Kong

on Tuesday, 21st of February 2012, 6:30 – 8:30 pm.


Let’s meet at the Witty Street Tram Depot to start a tour through Hong Kong, which will lead us from Witty Street Tram Depot (please refer to attached map to find the Tram Depot) to Causeway Bay and Happy Valley, back to Witty Street.

Please arrive on time as the Tram will leave at 6:30 pm sharp to celebrate “Faschingsdienstag” together. Free flow of Austrian red and white wine and snacks are included in the registration fee.

As seats are limited due to safety regulations we recommend booking your seats early! (first come, first serve! )

We are looking forward to seeing you there and remain

With best regards,

Wilhelm Brauner
Chairman

-----------
Please confirm your attendance by email (austrocham@austrocham.com) by Friday, 17th of February 2012.

Participation fee is HKD 200.00 for members/HKD 250.00 for non-members. This fee includes free flow of Austrian red and white wine and snacks. Please send your crossed cheque payable to “The Austrian Chamber of Commerce” to GPO Box 8031, Central, before the event.


Download AustroCham AustroTram event 21022012.pdf

Dear Members and Friends,

The European Union Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, will be coming to Hong Kong next week and will give a speech during a luncheon organized by the FCC on the 16th of February (see attached flyer).

With the kind support of the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (ECC) and the European Union Business Information Programme (EUBIP), we are delighted to invite you to attend this event at the member price of HK$150 (original price: HK$180).

As seats are limited, we would kindly ask you to RSVP before Tuesday – 14th of February! austrocham@austrocham.com

Download EU Trade Commissioner Talk - 16 Feb 2012.pdf

You love to play football and want to do so in a fun match against a team from Switzerland?

Then it’s time to contact us (please until the 13th of February) austrocham@austrocham.com in order to express your interest! We are looking for everybody who would like to attend, no matter if female or male for a relaxing afternoon playing soccer!

The event can only be organized if it is of substantial note for our members and friends!

Please join us all for the opportunity to meet with members of AustroCham and local friends of Austria!

Collegues and friends are welcome (no RSVP):

Time: 6:30– 8:30 p.m.

Venue: W52
G/F, Bar (rear)
52 Wyndham Street, Central
Hong Kong

Price: HKD 52.00 (per drink from listed choice
of drinks, canapés )

Erstmals wird das Hahnenkamm-Rennen weltweit zu sehen sein. Für all jene Länder, in denen keine Fernseh-Berichterstattung erfolgt, wird ein Live Übertragung im Internet angeboten (in über 200 Länder !).

Kommentiert werden die Rennen in Englisch. Auch zeitversetzt zugeschaut werden.

Die Rennen werden daher erstmals in Argentinien, Kuba, Brasilien, Neuseeland aber auch in der Antarktis und Grönland zu empfangen sein. Einfach über http://hahnenkamm.com/live-view.html anmelden.

Eine direkte TV-Berichterstattung erfolgt in Österreich, Deutschland, Norwegen, Schweden, USA, Schweiz, Italien, Finnland und Japan.

ASIAN FINANCIAL FORUM 2012

EU WORKSHOP-EUBIP
Hall 5F-G, Workshop Room A
HK Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wanchai
Tuesday 17 January 2012, 9.45am – 10.45am

“Investing in Europe;
Latest developments on EU rules covering investment funds”

This workshop will present the latest developments on EU rules covering investment funds as well as the preparations currently undertaken in the EU to ensure the smooth implementation of the Alternative Investment Fund Manager's Directive (AIFMD). An overview on the implementation measures currently being drafted, their scope and purpose will be provided, as well as third country implications will also be assessed. Apart from the AIFMD, the workshop will discuss the new EU rules on venture capital and ongoing projects in relation to the UCITS rules.
Agenda


Opening Remarks: Ms. Maria Castillo, Head of the EU Delegation to Hong Kong and Macao

Presentation: Mr. Tilman Lueder,
Head of Unit, Asset Management,
Directorate General for Internal Market and Services, European Commission

Panel debate: Experts to be confirmed


Closing Remarks: Mr. Paul Brough, Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong


For more information please contact Pandora Sze at pandora.sze@eurocham.com.hk or call +852-2511 5133

This event is funded by the European Union

Sound Fest  „A Viennese New Year“:

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Johannes Wildner. Hong Kong Cultural Center - Concert Hall, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, 8pm - also on the 31st of December, same time.
 
Tickets available (HK$ 140,- / HK$ 220,- / HK$ 300,- / HK$ 400,-) more information and tickets: www.urbtix.hk, Tel. (+852) 2111 5999

Please join us all for the opportunity to meet with members of AustroCham and local friends of Austria!

Collegues and friends are welcome:

Time: 6:30– 8:30 p.m.

Venue: W52
G/F, Bar (rear)
52 Wyndham Street, Central
Hong Kong

Price: HKD 52.00 (per drink from listed choice
of drinks, canapés )

In March this year, the HK Government launched the Data.one portal, a pilot project on opening up "Public Sector Information"(PSI). Citizens, businesses, and anyone interested in using the data to create value-added services can now download and re-use it free of charge. The pilot project includes real-time traffic data and geo-referenced data on public facilities such as schools, theatres etc.

Around the world, opening up government data has in recent years contributed to many new forms of service innovation.
What kind of useful services and applications could be developed for Hong Kong with public data?

Through the generous support of the European Union Business Information Programme, we have invited leading experts from Europe to share their experience of open data policies and projects.
We will also discuss potential applications for other public data usage, such as cultural and environmental data.

PSI is a new topic in Hong Kong, but with our high mobile phone usage in the city, we believe that many useful applications will be created.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to an interactive and inspiring seminar on 30 November, 8:30-11:30. The detailed programme rundown is posted here www.hkforesight.org/Join us for an interactive seminar to learn about European PSI practices, and how these could be applied in Hong Kong.


Download Eurocham Seminar PSI-30 Nov 2011.doc

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

the Rat für Formgebung/German Design Council and deTour are delighted to invite you to the opening of the YDMI installation at deTour 2011 in Hong Kong. Ten young professionals from Germany have spent two workshop days conceiving this design installation together with aspiring designers from Hong Kong and under the direction of Saskia Diez and Stefan Diez.

The reception will take place on Monday, November 28, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m.

YDMI -Young Designers Meet the Industry is the recruiting and acquisition platform for the design scene, at which selected young professionals from the fields of communication, product and industrial design meet up with companies with outstanding design expertise. The YDMI, an annual project by the German Design Council, was established in 2007. This year sees the launch of YDMI goes Hong Kong, enabling the next generation of designers to make the move into the Asian market at an earlier
stage in their design careers.

The YDMI design installation is supported by Zumtobel Lighting, member with Austrocham since 2011.

In addition to that, the ten YDMI participants will each exhibit one of their products or projects in the context of the German presentation at the specialist trade fair Inno Design Tech Expo (IDTE).

Please come and visit the YDMI Portfolio Show on December 1, 2011 at 2 pm at the Brand New Germany Forum, hall 3D–3E, booth 3D–C09. Each of the Young Professionals will hold a presentation of 15 slides in a time frame of 3 minutes, about their methods of working or specific projects and offer insights into their approach to design.
Visitor Pre-Registration for free entrance to IDTE:
http://www.hktdc.com/fair/innodesigntechexpo-en/HKTDC-Inno-Design-Tech-Expo.html

The German Design Council is organizing Germany's guest appearance in cooperation with the International Design Center in Berlin. Its patron is the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology and it is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics.

Detailed information on Germany‘s guest appearance as partner country, the companies involved and the planned events in the speakers‘ forum can be found here: www.bodw.de


Download Invitation_YDMI_2011.pdf

LUNCHEON CONFERENCE WITH BEN JONES,
ANALYST AT THE ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT
"EUROPE: OPPORTUNITY IN ADVERSITY"
12:00 - 2:00 pm

Amidst economic turmoil and financial speculation in the EU region, the recent EU Summit held in October 2011 has set ambitious goals of recovery, financial stability and sustainable job creating growth. A stronger and deeper union, both fiscal and economic is advocated by EU leaders, together with bank recapitalization and sustainability of public finance. Big steps are being taken in such direction, such as the creation of new pan-European entities (e.g. EFSF), but are these measures enough to contain the public debt crisis?
The Greek referendum on the bailout has opened the debate on the prospects of the EU in the mid-term and our guest speaker will analyze the potential economic and political scenarios in the coming years. Is the disintegration of the EU possible, or on the contrary, will the adversity strengthen the region and move towards a more federal union?
Finally, what are the medium-term implications for a sustainable growth? How can the EU safeguard its competitiveness in a context of highly competitive economies such as the BRICs? Which and where are the opportunities behind the crisis for the EU economy?
Ben Jones is a member of the Economist Intelligence Unit's Western Europe team of analysts. He is the editor of the EIU's European Union Regional Overview, covering the EU institutions, EU policy developments and the political and economic outlook for the region as a whole. Since joining the department in 2000 he has covered a number of European countries.

Admission Fee: HKD 390.00 for members (HKD 490.00 for non-members

For registration details, kindly contact pandora.sze@eurocham.com.hk or call +852 2511 5133. CLOSING DATE Friday 18 November

Dear Members and Friends,

AustroCham cordially invites you to join a breakfast symposium on

“Business In Motion – A new approach to sustainable health
for business people in Hong Kong”.

at THE CONRAD HOTEL (Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong)
on Thursday, 10th of November 2011, 8:00 – 9:30.

The Honorable Mag. Hans Holdhaus, Director of IMSB Health Promotion Department, international expert on health promotion and physical education and renowned expert in anti-doping will introduce a state of the art health program called “Business in Motion”.
This presentation offers you a unique approach to your personal health status, based on a special method called “HRV- measurement”. The results indicate details as to performance potential, training control, regeneration, morning or evening person, physical vitality, quality of sleep, performance and recovery orientation, type, talent, and many more.

About IMSB-Austria
IMSB is the Institute for Sports Medicine and Science (www.imsb.at). It was established in 1982 and awarded “Olympic Centre Status” in 1999. IMSB provides professional counseling and coaching, individual strengths & weaknesses analysis, personalized training and target-oriented nutrition programs.

The cost for participation is HKD 350.00 for members/HKD 400.00 for non-members. This fee includes full Continental Breakfast. Please send your crossed cheque payable to “The Austrian Chamber of Commerce” to GPO Box 8031, Central, and PRIOR to the event.

Please confirm your attendance by email (austrocham@austrocham.com) by Thursday, 3th of November 2011.

Cancellation policy: All cancellations within 48hr. before the event and No Shows will be charged the full registration fee.

Download IMSB - Burn out prevention.pdf

For members only!

The 2nd China Guangzhou International Exhibition of Low-carbon Products & Technologies, Sponsored by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and organized by CCPIT Guangzhou and other organizations, will be held in Guangzhou Jinhan Exhibition Center from November 3rd to 5th, 2011.

This exhibition is focused on seven major sections such as new energy, low-carbon transportation, green building, clean production, etc. Members of AustroCham are invited to attend the Opening Ceremony and other events, to use the platform and good opportunity the events provide to promote the development of the low carbon industry.

In order to make the visit to Guangzhou more fruitful, CCPIT has also worked with Nansha District of Guangzhou to design a study tour to Nansha. As you may know that Nansha is a state-level economic development zone, and is recently positioned as an experiment zone for cooperation among Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou. This study tour on November 2nd will give you ideas on how Nansha is developing and will develop in the coming years.

Please find attached program for this 2-day visit to Guangzhou.  The accommodation charge is RMB680 per night for luxury single room with one breakfast included.

If you need further information, please contact us austrocham@austrocham.com  by Friday October 21st at the latest

Download Program - Nansha Tour & Low-Carbon Fair.doc

Dear Members and Friends,

AustroCham cordially invites you yo join "Austrian Gemuetlichkeit" at the Heurigen 2011!

Please join us all for this special event at a very special location and set up. For details and booking please have a look at attached invitaion/booking form or write us austrocham@austrocham.com

Date:           November 4
Time:          6:30 - 11:30 pm                    
Venue:         Front Lawn at the Verandah, Repulse Bay

Looking forward to seeing you there,
Your AustroCham Team
Download AustroCham Heurigen Invitation 2011.pdf

Please join us all for the opportunity to meet with members of AustroCham and local friends of Austria!

Take also the last chance to get together before our Top Event of the year- The AustroCham Heurigen 2011 (November 4)
Collegues and friends are welcome:

Time: 6:30– 8:30 p.m.

Venue: W52
G/F, Bar (rear)
52 Wyndham Street, Central
Hong Kong

Price: HKD 52.00 (per drink from listed choice
of drinks, canapés )

Meet the Austrian Wine Importer and AustroCham Member "The Bottle Express"  at this special event (D143) and enjoy the unique taste of Austrian Wines!

The event that landed on Forbes Traveler.com's top 10 international food and wine festivals in its inaugural year is back to please discerning travellers and foodies with its intoxicating combination of fine wines, culinary delights and a stunning harbour backdrop. The third-edition of the four-day Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival will be held at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade again, and once more visitors will be treated to the best in wine, cuisine, live music and entertainment while enjoying one of the world's most iconic cityscapes.

More information

The paintings of the Austrian Artist Xenia Hausner are shown at the Shanghai Art Museum, Ocotber 12 - November 7th.

Xenia Hausner paints people. She stages encounters in imagined biographies. The focus of her new works is a collection of pictures, never before exhibited, dealing with love and loss and the catastrophes of our present age. These large-format pieces are a continuation of a series which in its entirety explores interpersonal confrontations and balancing acts in relationships. Xenia Hausner is concerned with disturbances in daily life when reliable contexts and familiar systems no longer work.

www.xeniahausner.de
www.sh-artmuseum.org.cn/
Download Press information_XENIAHAUSNER_DAMAGE.pdf

Please join us all for the opportunity to meet with members of AustroCham and local friends of Austria! Collegues and friends are welcome:

Time: 6:30– 8:30 p.m.

Venue: W52
G/F, Bar (rear)
52 Wyndham Street, Central
Hong Kong

Price: HKD 52.00 (per drink from listed choice
of drinks, canapés )


Takes place every first Tuesday of every month (except public holidays).
Looking forward to seeing you there! (No RSVP required)

SMEs operating in the Pearl Riva Delta are noe facinf increasing ehtical challenges caused by acute competions folowinf the intensified economic integration of Guandong, Hong Kong and Macao.

To help cross - boundary SMEs understand the business environment in the region as well as the latest development of the anti-corruption policies in the three places, the ICAC of Hong Kong, the Guangdong Provincial People’s Procuratorate and the Commission Against Corruption of Macao will jointly organise an “Integrity and Professionalism – Key to Business Success” Conference for SMEs in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

For registration please contact austrocham@austrocham.com before August 31st. Registration fee is HKD 100. 
Download SME Leaflet.pdf

To strengthen the economic and trade cooperation between Mainland and Hong Kong, HKTDC and the Ministry of Commerce PRC will co-organise the subject seminar on 16 Sep 2011(9:30 am–12:10 pm and 2:30 – 5:00 pm ) to present business opportunities arise from the establishment of 13 CEPA model cities for Hong Kong companies especially in the service sectors.

Attention: The seminar will be in Putonghua.
Note: SI will be provided if necessary, but only for AM session

AM Section (9:30a.m. - 12:10p.m.) : Opening Ceremony & Plenary Session
PM Section (14:30p.m. - 17:00p.m.) : Deal Flow with 13 cities on CEPA opportunities


The 13 cities are Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhu Hai and Foshan in Guangdong; Nanning in Guangxi; Nanjing and Suzhou in Jiangsu; Pudong in Shanghai; Beibu New Zone in Chongqing; Jinan and Qingdao in Shandong and Urumqi in Xinjiang.

MOFCOM Assistant Minister Yu Jian Hua and senior officials of the 13 cities will deliver the presentations on the latest business opportunities under CEPA.

Please regisgter (at free admission) befor September 2 (first come first serve) with austrocham@austrocham.com

In the first half of 2011 the global economy continues to grow steadily. However, Europe suffers from a severe sovereign debt crisis and the growth of the US economy is still sluggish. Dramatic events in Northern Africa and the Middle East Region
added to the high volatility in the markets while there are indications that the Chinese economic growth might slow down.

Dr. Jörg Krämer, Chief Economist of Commerzbank, will pay particular attention to the European sovereign debt crisis and he will show that Germany could outperform the rest of the Euro-zone for years. He will also give his perspective on the outlook for Asia. Marketwise, he will analyse the ECB monetary policy and highlight Commerzbank’s outlook for bond yields and FX developments.

For more information and registration please download attached registration form
Download Registration Form Will Germany continue to outperform the global economy.pdf

*** Members only***

Come together and meet with hundreds of members from 27
international business organizations in Hong Kong! Find more details in attached invitation flyer.

To participate, please contact us austrocham@austrocham.com until the 10th of August.
Download InterChamCocktail 31August 2011.pdf

The seminar will fully promote the service industry in Jiangsu and Hong Kong, release the major modern service industry cooperation projects in Jiangsu, provide match-making platform for mutual cooperation, and promote exchanges and cooperation between service industry departments, trade associations, intermediary organizations, research institutions, enterprises, and institutions of higher learning in two sides, and develop the service trade.

Many an influential, innovative leader and entrepreneur will be present at the seminar (no fee for registration)

To attend please register with austrocham@austrocham.com with your name, company name, position and phone no.

Download Invitation_July 11th.png

Dr. Jessen (Head of Division at European External Action Service ot the European Commission) and Mr. Ng ( Associate Director General in Invest Hong Kong) will share with the audience their views on the 12th 5-year plan, both from a political and economic perspective, including the parts of the plan relating explicitly to Hong Kong and Macao. He will speak about the possible internal changes in China, where a possible shift from export-led growth to greater domestic consumption, may have significant repercussions not only in
China and Greater China, but also the world over. In conclusion, Dr. Jessen will offer some views on possible opportunities for European businesses and industry.


Date: Thursday 30th of June 2011.

Time: 12:45 to 14:30.

Venue: Club Lusitano 27/F, 16 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong

Price: Members HKD 350 per person; No members HKD 400 per person.

For reservations please contact Ms. Kim Christiane Larsen at kim.larsen@eurocham.com.hk or call to +852 2511 5133.

The 46th InterCham Connecting People Cocktail will take place on Tuesday 21 June 2011 at Shore. Event proceeds will be donated to the InterCham Scholarship Fund.

Date: Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Time: 6:30 – 9:30pm
Venue: Shore, 3-4 Floor, the L Place, 139 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Charity: InterCham Scholarship Fund

Tickets: HKD 250 (members), HKD 350 (non-members), incl. 2 drinks and canapes. Please register at austrocham@austrocham.com for a ticket.

The China IPR SME Helpdesk and the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong will co-host the third annual Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Symposium on 16 June 2011(8.30am – 12.30pm)  with the support of the Hong Kong IP Department.

This free, half-day event will be an opportunity for EU Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) working with Greater China to interact with a diverse pool of high profile IPR experts.

In addition to Q&A sessions after each presentation, EU SMEs will have the opportunity to sign up for IPR Clinics, one-on-one, 20-minute consultation sessions with one of the IPR experts to discuss their own IP issues, completely free of charge.

In this training workshop you will learn about the IPR landscape in Greater China, how to register your IPR, how to guard your trade secrets, and how to confidently plan your technology transfer whilst maintaining competitiveness and market share. This event will benefit SMEs involved in manufacturing, technology and R&D, or anyone wanting to learn cost effective strategies for protecting their IPR.

Please RSVP by E-mailing pandora.sze@eurocham.com.hk

Include your name, position, company name, and whether you would like to sign up for the IPR Clinic session in the afternoon. The Clinic session reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis for EU SMEs. Don’t miss this opportunity for a free 20-minute consultation with an IPR expert! For any enquiries regarding the event, please contact Pandora Sze at (+852) 2511 5133.

Join EuroCham in an interactive discussion on the topic of taxation efficiency. European SMEs with established operations in Greater China and local companies with presence in Europe are especially welcome.


Topics that will be covered include:

•How to use Hong Kong treaties to manage the tax exposure

•How to optimize your taxation efficiency when trading goods to/from China

•Tax efficient sales structures into Europe/ China/ Hong Kong

Event Contact:  kim.larsen@eurocham.com.hk

Cheer for TEAM AUSTRIA!

Further details will be advertised as they become available.

AustroCham Business Breakfast with Mr. Philipp Hanusch on a talk on “Managing (Cross-Border) Disputes in your Contracts”. Mr. Philipp Hanusch, solicitor with Deacons, will discuss the importance of choosing a proper dispute resolution mechanism in commercial contracts - 08:00 at the Conrad Hotel, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong, Tel: (852) 2521 3838.

An al fresco BBQ with relaxed family style setting amongst the company of our friends soak in the tranquility and calm overlooking the South China Sea only minutes away from the hectic of the city.

AustroCham Grillfest
on the Prompt Poolside Terrace at
LeMeridien Hotel Cyberport
4th Floor, 100 Cyberport Road
Hong Kong

Saturday, 12 March 2011, 19:00 - 22:00 hours.