Supported by the Healthcare Committee and SME & Start-up Committee
Reopening Hong Kong Travel: The Impact of Rapid Testing and Travel Bubbles
Speakers:
Edward Yau, GBS, JP, HKSAR Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Danny Yeung, Co-founder and CEO of Prenetics
Ben Cowling, Professor and head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
Moderator:
Todd Handcock, President, Asia Pacific, Collinson
In recent months, we saw Covid-19 infections being somewhat brought under control in locations such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and other parts of Asia. As a result, both Government and health organisations sought to find ways to reintroduce travel in a controlled and safe manner – including the now postponed (in accordance with the in-built 14-day circuit breaker) bilateral Air Travel Bubble (ATB); which was due to come into operation on 22nd November. While acknowledging recent positive reports regarding vaccinations, what actions are being taken in the meantime to help enable similar ATB agreements to be achieved, and how far are we from achieving the safe, long-term return of global travel?
Join this webinar to hear from Hong Kong experts on how the recent spikes in cases are impacting the reopening of Hong Kong travel; the steps being taken to balance traveller and public safety with the return of travel to Hong Kong; the current future outlook for tourism and business travel going forward; as well as what can be done to support the safe return of global travel.
Details on how to join will be sent via email by 5pm the day before the webinar.
About the speakers
Mr Yau assumed the post of the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development on July 1, 2017. His portfolio covers policy areas from trade, commerce to telecommunications and broadcasting, and from promotion of creative industries, intellectual property and consumer protection to boosting inward investment and tourism development.
Mr Yau has his full career in the public service. Before taking up the current post, Mr Yau was the Director of the Chief Executive's Office from 2012 to 2017, assisting the Chief Executive in formulating policies and setting policy goals and priorities. He was the Secretary for the Environment from 2007 to 2012, overseeing policies on environmental protection, energy, nature conservation and sustainable development.
Mr Yau started his civil service career as an Administrative Officer in 1981. During his long service as a civil servant, he held various positions, including Director of Information Services, Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower, Deputy Director-General of Trade and Industry as well as Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington, DC, USA.
Mr Yau graduated from the University of Hong Kong. He received further education at Oxford University and at Harvard University.
Danny Yeung serves as Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Prenetics Group – the leading genetics-enabled digital health company in Southeast Asia, headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices in Asia, Europe and Africa. In 4 years, Prenetics has grown into a team of 120+ people and has raised more than US$50M in funding from Alibaba and more.
Prior to Prenetics, Danny was a Founding Partner at SXE Ventures. He also founded uBuyiBuy in 2010, a company that was acquired by Groupon. Danny was appointed CEO of Groupon East Asia before leaving the company in early 2014.
Danny’s entrepreneurial journey started at the age of 25 when he ventured into franchising Hong Kong dessert chain, Hui Lau Shan by taking it to the USA. After exiting Hui Lau Shan, Danny ventured into hospitality furniture, executed projects with MGM City Center, City of Dreams Macau and The Venetian. Danny received his BS in MIS from the University of San Francisco in 2002.
It’s Danny’s mission to give people the power to be in control of their own health. His life’s motto is: “Play Hard, Work Harder”.
Ben Cowling is currently Professor and head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong, and co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control. He conducts research into the epidemiology of influenza and other respiratory viruses, with a focus on transmission dynamics and the effectiveness of control measures including vaccination. Since early 2020 he has conducted research on the epidemiology and control of COVID-19 including a series of highly cited publications in NEJM, Science and Nature Medicine. He has authored more than 450 peer-reviewed journal publications to date. He is Editor-in-Chief of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, and an Associate Editor of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. His work is supported by a number of major grants from funding bodies in Hong Kong and the United States.
About the moderator
Todd Handcock is President, Asia Pacific at Collinson – a global leader in the provision of medical and security assistance and travel medical services. Leveraging more than 55 years’ experience in the delivery of international medical assistance and emergency care, Collinson has been working to support the safe return of global travel through a number of initiatives including inbound and outbound airport testing solutions, workplace testing and enhanced lounge standards for its global network of 1,300+ Priority Pass airport lounges.
Todd has over 25 years of experience in the region, with leadership roles across sales, marketing and operations. He has supported clients in diverse industries including banking, insurance, consumer, retail, travel and hospitality, and has a deep understanding and appreciation for the complex challenges faced by businesses in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.
Prior to joining Collinson, Todd was President Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific for Kognitiv Corporation and prior to that held senior leadership roles with Williams Lea Tag and BT Global Services. Todd is also the Immediate Past Chairman and Current Governor of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
Pricing
- Member: HK$140
- Non-Member: HK$250
Terms & Conditions
- Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
- Cancellations must be made in writing 24 hours prior to the event. No shows will be charged.
- This event is closed to the media.
- The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon signal or the Black Rain Storm warning is in force.
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- For further information please email [email protected]
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