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Hong Kong hosts first LEAP East, drawing 35,000 global innovators
Other top government officials attending the opening ceremony included Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSARG and Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia.
The event underscored the deepening partnership between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, and highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a unique gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with the world.
“Hong Kong is perhaps the only city in the world that connects seamlessly to both the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world at the same time,” Mr Chan said. “Working under the common law system, we have robust protection for intellectual property. As a free port, capital, goods, talent and data freely flow in and out of this city. Simple, low tax is a standing feature of our regime. And we are one of the safest, most stable cities anywhere in the world. These are the foundations on which businesses, talent and creativity thrive.”
Mr Chan invited Saudi and Gulf enterprises to use Hong Kong as an international fundraising and risk-management platform, and expressed the HKSAR’s commitment to further strengthening co-operation with Saudi Arabia in innovation, infrastructure, green technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and professional services.
“Innovation needs capital, and Hong Kong is where capital and ideas meet. This is the heart of our ‘Finance+’ strategy – using finance as a powerful enabler to drive the real economy,” Mr Chan said.
Professor Sun noted that the HKSARG’s efforts in promoting innovation and technology (I&T) are bearing fruit. He said the number of start-ups in Hong Kong has surged by 40% since 2021, reaching 5,200 in 2025. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster was ranked first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025 and Hong Kong ranked fourth globally in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025, and second globally in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026.
Hong Kong also topped the world in IPO (initial public offering) in 2025, with 119 listings raising some US$35 billion, including many world tech champions.
Professor Sun also met with Mr Alswaha to exchange views on I&T collaborations between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.
“This international gathering reflects the rising global I&T momentum, and Hong Kong is proud to serve as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ for international exchanges,” Professor Sun said.
Meanwhile, Mr Chan revealed that he plans to lead a Hong Kong delegation to Saudi Arabia later this year, bringing leading companies in infrastructure, green tech, healthcare and advanced manufacturing, plus professionals in the finance, investment and professional services sector, to explore concrete projects and further partnership.
Hashtag: #hongkong #brandhongkong #asiasworldcity #LEAPEast #I&T #innovation
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The annual ranking, produced in collaboration with Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, recognises the most innovative and high-impact fintech firms globally.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our team and the trust our customers and partners place in us every day,” said Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer. “Cross-border financial operations can be complex, especially for SMEs. We focus on solving the real operational challenges behind international payments, reducing friction, improving visibility, and strengthening risk controls, so businesses can concentrate on growth.”
XTransfer‘s inclusion underscores the company’s growing role in the global payments ecosystem and its long-term mission to make cross-border trade payments simpler, safer, and more accessible for SMEs worldwide. XTransfer will continue to invest in compliance and product innovation, while deepening collaboration with top-tier financial institutions to help more businesses trade globally with confidence.
CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies list evaluates thousands of firms across seven key segments, including Payments, Digital Assets, and Enterprise Technology. Companies were assessed based on quantitative KPIs, growth metrics, and industry influence, with data sourced from public reports, company submissions, and independent research.
Based on the results of the study, XTransfer is honoured to be recognised on CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies 2026 list. View list here.
Hashtag: #XTransfer #CNBC #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs
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XTransfer
XTransfer, the world’s largest B2B cross-border trade payment platform with over US$60 billion TPV in 2025, according to CIC. Founded in 2017 as one of the first payment platforms worldwide dedicated to B2B cross-border trade, we serve the largest customer base of over 890,000 registered SMEs globally.
We connect top-tier financial institutions directly to SMEs, the backbone of global trade, giving businesses of every size access to the same secure, compliant and seamless payment infrastructure once reserved for multinationals. As of March 31, 2026, we provide payment services across more than 200 countries and regions through partnerships with financial institutions, including some of the most established international banks around the world.
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Lanson Place Parliament Gardens In Melbourne Named ‘Best New Hotel’ At 2026 Global Hotel Alliance Awards
“We are incredibly proud that Lanson Place Parliament Gardens has been recognised as the Best New Hotel at the 2026 GHA Awards,” said Michael Hobson, Chief Executive Officer of Lanson Place. “This recognition is a wonderful validation of the vision behind every Lanson Place property, namely to offer comfortable, private sanctuaries with a relaxed but unmatched tradition of service.
Being part of the GHA has allowed us to share that vision with an even wider community of travellers, while also giving our own guests access to the valuable benefits of DISCOVERY membership. Being named Best New Hotel is also particularly meaningful as we joined the GHA less than a year ago. This award belongs to every member of our team and marks a strong signal of what lies ahead for Lanson Place.”
Marcus Packham, General Manager of Lanson Place Parliament Gardens, added: “This thrilling accolade serves as an endorsement of the passion and dedication of all our team members who go above and beyond, day in and day out, to create a true home away from home for every guest in the heart of Melbourne. We look forward to welcoming new guests from around the world so they can experience for themselves what distinguishes us.”
The awards recognised outstanding achievements across GHA’s portfolio of 1,000 hotels spanning 55 brands in 100 countries. The accolades celebrate excellence in performance, guest engagement and satisfaction, technology, sustainability, loyalty and collaboration across the alliance.
Lanson Place DISCOVERY Limited Time Offer
To coincide with this achievement, Lanson Place DISCOVERY members can currently enjoy triple DISCOVERY Dollars (D$) when staying at Lanson Place properties in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Melbourne, from now until 31 August 2026, making every stay even more rewarding.
Terms and conditions may apply. For more information on the special offer, visit: https://lansonplace.com/loyalty
Hashtag: #LansonPlace #BestNewHotel #GHAAwards
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About Lanson Place Hospitality Management Limited
Lanson Place is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wing Tai Properties Limited (Wing Tai), a publicly listed company in Hong Kong (HKEx stock code: 369). The transformative hospitality management company currently manages eight properties under the Lanson Place brand, comprising Personal Hotels and Residences in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Melbourne. Additionally, it manages Two MacDonnell Road in Hong Kong as well as Yiju Apartment in Shenzhen, China.
Lanson Place provides comfortable, personal sanctuaries for both short-term and extended-stay guests at central locations in major global cities. Infused by a family-like service tradition, Lanson Place creates warm and sheltered places with a club-style feel where communities form and bond. Guests can enjoy a true home-away-from-home experience.
The Group aims to grow the Lanson Place brand across the Asia-Pacific region and continues to explore both investment and management opportunities in major gateway cities.
Website: lansonplace.com
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About GHA and GHA DISCOVERY:
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands with 55 brands and 1,000 hotels across 100 countries. Its award-winning loyalty programme – GHA DISCOVERY – provides 36 million members with recognition, D$ rewards and exclusive experiences across its hotels and partners, both with and without a stay.
Through membership in GHA, brands expand their global reach, drive incremental revenue and reduce dependence on third-party channels, all while maintaining management independence and individual positioning. For more information, visit globalhotelalliance.com or ghadiscovery.com.
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SkinLab The Medical Spa Recognised at the 2026 Singapore Retailers Association Awards (SRA) for Excellence in Beauty and Cosmetics
For SkinLab, this reflects two decades of building a holistic beauty ecosystem spanning medical aesthetics, skin health, and wellness, under Dr Kelvin Chua, Senior Medical Director and Founder of SL Aesthetic Group. Treatments are personally developed by Dr Chua to address different skin concerns, such as acne, pigmentation, sensitivity, rosacea, dryness, and ageing. The medical spa also offers a range of skincare products formulated for Singapore’s humid climate and to support long-term skin health.
With 10 outlets islandwide, SkinLab has cared for more than 100,000 customers through this model of doctor-designed care. As no two skin conditions present the same way, each treatment can be customised to individual needs and preferences.
SkinLab has also been recognised by Harper’s BAZAAR, HerWorld, and Singapore Women’s Weekly for treatments targeting deep hydration, rejuvenation, and complexion correction. Behind these treatment outcomes are medical-grade technologies, including the LDM Triple, a triple-frequency ultrasound that targets multiple skin depths simultaneously; FDA-approved Lumenis M22 IPL system for photorejuvenation and pigmentation; Onda Pro with Coolwaves™ technology for body contouring; and the globally-recognised HydraFacial.
The medical spa continuously invests in technology that improves the customer experience, including using AI-assisted skin analysis to support consultations alongside chatbot-based scheduling to reduce waiting time and streamline appointment bookings.
SkinLab’s commitment to holistic care extends beyond treatment sessions, promoting skin health literacy educational content and workshops with doctors from sister brand SL Aesthetic Clinic.
“This award is a valuable milestone that reflects how far SkinLab The Medical Spa has grown as a brand,” says Dr Chua. “From the very start, our brand was designed with the customer at the centre, and that principle continues to guide every treatment developed and every experience delivered moving forward. The brand remains committed to advancing medical-led facial treatments that address a wide range of skin concerns more effectively.”
Looking ahead, SkinLab The Medical Spa remains committed to advancing its medical-led approach to skin health, continuing to explore and adopt clinically validated technologies to deliver more individualised care while reinforcing its commitment to clinical excellence across all its outlets.
To learn more, visit: www.skinlabmedspa.com
Hashtag: #SkinLabTheMedicalSpa #SLAestheticGroup #SingaporeRetailersAssociation
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About SkinLab The Medical Spa
SkinLab The Medical Spa brings together the attentive, understated service of a world-class spa with medically grounded aesthetic science. As the dedicated medical spa brand of SL Aesthetic Group, SkinLab focuses on non-invasive facial treatments for acne, pigmentation, sensitive skin, and overall skin rejuvenation, delivering evidence-based care that supports long-term skin health.
Founded in the 2000s, SL Aesthetic Group is a healthcare and aesthetics group specialising in skin and hair health, women’s wellness, and holistic medicine. Its portfolio includes SL Aesthetic Clinic, a doctor-led medical aesthetics practice; SkinLab The Medical Spa; TrichoLab, a specialist hair and scalp centre; PROLOGUE, a women’s wellness and lifestyle medical clinic; and Euphie Skin Solutions in Malaysia. Across its network of clinics and outlets, the Group offers a comprehensive range of FDA-approved aesthetic and medical treatments, all supervised by trained and certified healthcare professionals holding Certificates of Competency (COC) recognised by the Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee (APOC).
SkinLab The Medical Spa operates 10 locations across Singapore, including its flagship medical spa at Wheelock Place, while SL Aesthetic Group has a network of more than 20 clinics and outlets across Singapore and Malaysia.
