Founded in 2017 by Shanghai-based Joy Group, JudyDoll targets younger consumers with its colour-driven product offerings and focus on product quality. The brand also offers Halal-certified products, allowing it to cater to markets with diverse cultural requirements.

InvestHK said it has been providing information and support for JudyDoll’s Hong Kong launch and will continue to assist the brand as it expands, including plans to enter additional core retail districts in the city.

JudyDoll is regarded as an early mover among mainland cosmetics brands expanding overseas, with a presence that already spans Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, Canada, the Middle East and North America.

Clair Chau, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager of JudyDoll Hong Kong, said, “Hong Kong is where global trends meet. The city’s vibrant makeup culture is deeply connected to its fashionable spirit. We hope to showcase the brand’s vitality, attitude and aesthetics to a wider range of consumers in Hong Kong’s growing and trusted retail market.”

With its Hong Kong store serving as a pilot, the brand is shifting from an online-only model to an omnichannel retail approach as it builds a broader international footprint.

Angelica Leung, Deputy Head of Consumer and Hospitality of InvestHK, said, “We welcome JudyDoll opening its first physical store in Hong Kong. We look forward to the fresh makeup experience and culture brought by JudyDoll’s physical store, alongside its creative online interactions, adding new vibrancy to this city as an international trend hub. We hope the brand will leverage Hong Kong as a go-global platform and further expand into new overseas markets.”

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Named the Hey Food Smart Catering Robot, the initiative integrates technological solutions from the mainland with local business expertise. The system provides hot meals around the clock, with fully automated operations that handle ordering, reheating, and dispensing, applying AI technology to local food and beverage retail scenarios.

Alpha Lau, director-general of Investment Promotion of InvestHK, highlighted the role of government collaboration in supporting innovation. The latest budget, she noted, emphasises the industrialisation of AI and encourages its wider adoption.

She shared, “We are very pleased to see these technologies being adopted in the catering industry, opening up new directions for smart retail. This project also fully demonstrates the result of cross-departmental collaboration in facilitating the successful implementation of innovative technologies while ensuring compliance with local regulations and food safety requirements.”

Lau continued, “I look forward to seeing more companies leverage Hong Kong’s business advantages to further expand its presence in the city and across the Asia-Pacific region.”

Donald Ng, director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, said the FEHD has long supported innovation in the catering industry while maintaining food safety and public hygiene standards.

He said, “For this project, the FEHD maintained close communication with the relevant companies, providing guidance on legal requirements and hygiene standards to facilitate their acquisition of the necessary food business licences.”

“I am pleased to see the smooth implementation of this project and look forward to more technological applications in the catering industry in the future to continuously elevate service standards,” Ng added. 

Zhang Linjun, deputy general manager of CREP, said the company is committed to building a one-stop overseas expansion platform to help Mainland brands establish a presence in Hong Kong and explore business opportunities.

“Leveraging our two decades of resources and experiences in Hong Kong’s commercial market, we have assisted Mainland companies in establishing their technological and business operations in Hong Kong,” he said. 

He continued, “We have also developed a deep partnership with InvestHK to promote the application of innovative technologies in the catering sector while tackling daily challenges in the industry. This initiative will offer Hong Kong residents more diverse dining options in various scenarios, including remote areas, busy districts and late-night hours. Going forward, we will further expand the scope of co-operation to help the smart catering business form a scaled operational network.”

Founded in 2000, CREP manages a portfolio of commercial properties in Hong Kong’s key business districts and neighbourhoods. In recent years, the company has expanded its overseas service platform, helping Mainland brands go global while providing higher-quality services and products to Hong Kong residents.

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The government has welcomed WeBank’s initiative, with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) working together to assist in the establishment of the technology company’s headquarters in Hong Kong.

WeBank’s technology company headquarters in Hong Kong will serve as a base for its R&D activities and provide commercialising technology solutions for global markets. 

As a key participant, contributor, and beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong was chosen by WeBank for its vision, readiness to embrace frontier technologies, and vibrant fintech ecosystem. Additionally, Hong Kong’s well-established international financial services sector made it an ideal location for the bank’s new headquarters.

Alpha Lau, director-deneral of InvestHK, said, “The establishment of WeBank’s operation in Hong Kong has been the result of extensive co-ordination between the FSTB and InvestHK to ensure that the company is well positioned for success upon commencing its activities in our city. The numerous strategic enterprises that have recently announced the opening of international research and development (R&D) centres and headquarters in Hong Kong is clear evidence that our city possesses clear advantages in enabling globally scaled companies to achieve their ambitions. InvestHK warmly welcomes WeBank and remains fully committed to facilitating the establishment and growth of forward-thinking enterprises in our dynamic and vibrant business environment.”

Meanwhile, Li Nanqing, President of WeBank, shared, “Hong Kong has emerged as a centre of excellence in global business connectivity and financial technology innovation. It offers us an ideal environment to advance our innovation and expand our international footprint. We are excited to contribute to and benefit from the city’s dynamic fintech ecosystem, robust infrastructure, and strategic connectivity. We look forward to collaborating with local partners and stakeholders and attracting talent on this exciting next step of our journey.”

WeBank, serving over 4.5 million micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and nearly 400 million individuals in Mainland China, is renowned for its inclusive financial services. Recognised by the International Data Corporation as a global digital banking benchmark, WeBank excels in fintech innovation, particularly in AI, blockchain, cloud computing, and big data. To date, it has filed over 3,800 patent applications.

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