January 2012

Dear friends,
 
The Chinese New Year is one of those moments in the year when the whole nation feels united, as they can feel each other's enjoyment. This year we are celebrating, 20 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the state of Israel and main land China
 
Israel is a country with little natural resources, but with huge human resources and wisdom. This is one of the main reasons that Israel is considered as one of the most developed countries in high-tech research and development.

We wish you all, that the Chinese New Year of the Dragon, will bring peace, happiness and prosperity.
  
Karen Grunschlag Rozenberg
Head of Culture Department

Read the latest issue >>

Archive: 2011 June issue >>; July issue >>; August issue >>; September issue >>; October issue >>; November issue >>; December issue >>

"Moments of thrilling virtuosity ... and a melting tone" The Strad

"A soulful narrative and a tone that was rich and vibrant as Jascha Heifetz’s" The Independent

Displaying a dazzling combination of technical brilliance and a uniquely profound musical personality, Hagai Shaham is internationally recognized as one of Israel’s most astonishing violinists. He was showcased in Mozart’s Concerto No. 3, an engaging and vivacious work which features a slow movement of great warmth. The programme also includes a performance of Arnold Schoenberg’s The Transfigured Night for string orchestra. This sensuous and expansively romantic work reveals the transfiguration of the world to a lover after he has forgiven his sweetheart for her sin. Carl Davis’ music to the Academy Award winning film Anne Frank Remembered adds further depth to a programme full of poignant masterpieces.

The Consulate General of Israel is an Event Partners of this concert. 

19.11.2011 (Saturday) 8pm
Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall

Carl Davis  Anne Frank Remembered
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  Concerto for Violin No. 3, K. 216 in G major, “Strassburg”
Arnold Schoenberg  Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), Op. 4

More information >>

Violin Masterclass by Hagai Shaham
20 November (Sunday) 2011, 3-5pm
GR2 8/F, HK Cultural Centre Theatre Backstage

Hagai Shaham is Professor of Violin at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University.

More information >>

CCOHK website >>

The Golan Heights Winery represented the Israeli quality wines at the Winefuture Hong Kong 2011 

Following the Israeli wine industry' s growing international success and the consistent growth of quality table wine exports from Israel, the Golan Heights Winery, one of Israel's leading wineries, presented its wines at the Winefuture Hong Kong event during 6-8 November 2011.

This is the first time an Israeli winery to participate in this event, representing the quality Israeli wine industry and farther developing of its existing and potential Asian business. 

The Golan Heights Winery has been active in the Asian markets for over a decade, with exports to Japan for more than ten years, and to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other Asian markets since two years ago.

The Israeli winery came to Hong Kong with the purpose of developing further business in the region and also with the objective of representing the Israeli wine industry and its quality to more key players in the Asian wine scene. 

Its international and China marketing team, Mr. Udi Kadim, Vice President for International Sales and Marketing, Mrs. Yael Gai, International Sales and Marketing Manager, and Ms. Lisa Tang, DIAN trading from Shanghai and the winery's representative in China, were present at the event.

The Golan Heights Winery (www.golanwines.co.il)  was founded in 1983 and is located in the small town of Katzrin, high up on the Golan Heights. By combining state-of-the-art technology with traditional vinification techniques, the company has succeeded in producing award-winning wines, firmly placing Israel on the international wine map. 

Israel's wine industry has undergone a technological revolution. The results are remarkable and include not only improved quality but also international recognition. Israeli wines have excelled in major wine-tasting competitions and have received listings in many of the world's most famous restaurants. It is no wonder that Robert Parker wrote: "The wines are getting better all the time and some of them are superb." Oz Clarke referred to Israel as "rising star of the wine world." More information: http://israeliwineasia.com/israeli-wine.html. 

Winefuture is a summit that brings together the most influential and important personalities of the wine industry. The goal of this 3 day conference is to study the challenges and opportunities for the industry in regards to trends, consumption, marketing, communications, economics, internet and sales. The Hong Kong edition will have a certain focus on Asian markets. Speakers at the event will include: Robert Parker Jr., Jancis Robinson MW, Angelo Gaja, Miguel Torres and Michel Rolland, to name just a few.

As a guest of the Consulate General of Israel and the Jewish Community of Hong Kong, Mr. Carmi Gillon, Vice-president of external relations for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, visited Hong Kong during 24-27 October 2011.

Mr. Gillon has a distinguished career in the public services, being former Head of the Israeli Security Service, Ambassador of Israel to Denmark and Mayor of Mevasseret Zion.

During his stay in Hong Kong, Mr. Gillon delivered several speeches to the Jewish Community, Israeli and Hong Kong business communities and university students, with topics ranging from higher education, national security, democracy, Israel and the Middle East.

He has also met with senior government officials, politicians, business leaders and academics, and was interviewed by the Jewish Times Asia and ATV World channel’s programme “Newsline”.

Negotiations on the Agreement on Surrender of Fugitive Offenders (Extradition) between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the State of Israel were held in Hong Kong from 26-28 July 2011.

The State of Israel’s Delegation was led by Mr Gal Levertov, Director, Department of International Affairs, Office of the State Attorney, Ministry of Justice.   The Hong Kong SAR Delegation was led by Mr Wayne Walsh, Deputy Law Officer (Mutual Legal Assistance), International Law Division, Department of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR.

The negotiations were conducted in a friendly and constructive manner.   The delegations were able to reach consensus and agree to follow up with their respective authorities with a view to early completion of their procedures necessary for the signing of the Agreement between the State of Israel and the Hong Kong SAR. 

Ambassador Amikam Levy shared Israel’s unique experience and his thoughts on the prospect of the collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen at the “Forum on Creating Synergy in Innovation and Technology - Shenzhen / Hong Kong Cooperation” on July 8.

The forum was organised by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University with the support of the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Science, Industry, Trade and Information Technology Commission of Shenzhen Municipality. The half-day, high level forum aimed to promote the successful collaboration in innovation and technology between Mainland and Hong Kong, with a focus on the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle". 

Represented by ambassador Amikam Levy, Consul General, HK & Macau, Consulate General of Israel, the “tiny Middle East country” was first to share the experience with the audience. With a population of 7.4 million, Israel is sometimes referred to as “the capital of the hi-tech world”, said the Ambassador, citing the fact that the country ranks first in per capita R&D spending in the world, and sixth in “the ability to innovate”. The country boasts an advanced economy, and is among the leaders in various knowledge-based sectors.

The quick-witted ambassador urged people to have determination and faith in their quest for technological advancement, and “to do the right things”. On the partnership between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, ambassador Levy believed that the two are set to benefit from a good infrastructure, an increasingly knowledge-based workforce and ample resources readily available in China.

More >>

Two very promising and young award-winning pianists from Israel, Berenika Glixman and Rafael Skorka, made their début in Hong Kong and Asia on Wednesday, 15 June, at 8pm at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Concert Hall.

Both in their 20s, Berenika and Rafael are among the emerging artists in Israel’s classical music scene.  They have won various national and international awards, including the first prizes of the Young Artist Competition in Jerusalem in 2008.  They also performed as soloists with numerous orchestras in Israel and around the world.

In addition to their exposure in Europe and the USA, they appeared for the first time in Asia and in Hong Kong, performing works by Mozart, Chopin, Brahms, Scarlatti and Schumann.  They recorded for the Radio 4 of the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK).

More details >>

Lonely Planet has called it the world's third top city for 2011. We take a look at what makes Tel Aviv so special. While it is said that Israel's spiritual heart beats in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv boasts its cultural and business center. Though it has its share of traditional Jewish aspects, the coastal city is storied for its overwhelmingly secular, multiethnic and fashion-forward lifestyle.  More >>

Tel Aviv Global City on facebook >>

OTHER EVENTS:

2011 events >>

2011 cultural events >>

The Consulate has published a booklet on Israel – a concise introduction of Israel in Chinese language.  Please contact us at info@hongkong.mfa.gov.il for free copies. 

Table of content

Map of Israel

The land

History

The state

The people

Health and social services

Education

Science and Technology

Economy

Culture

Among the nations

(Israel-China relations, Israel-Hong Kong relations, World Jewry, Hong Kong Jewish community)

Tourism

(No of pages: 40; Measurement: 10 x 21.5 cm)

EMERGENCE Tel No. 6383 6001

Please note our direct telephone numbers and e-mail addresses as follows:

General - 28217500

Consular & Visa Department - 28217510 / 28217505, consular@hongkong.mfa.gov.il / consularassist@hongkong.mfa.gov.il

Press and Public Relations Department - 28217512, info@hongkong.mfa.gov.il

Economic & Trade Department - 28217509, economy@hongkong.mfa.gov.il