From the Commissioner
Dear Friends, Kung Hei Fat Choi!
As we usher in the Year of the Rat, I would like to wish you all a safe and prosperous New Year.
In late January, I made my first official visits to West Virginia and Ohio where I met senior economic and trade officials, as well as prominent business leaders, to promote Hong Kong's gateway role to the Mainland of China as well as the Asia-Pacific region.
In Charleston, West Virginia, I met Governor Joe Manchin III. I updated the governor on the successful implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle; Hong Kong's economic performance; and the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), Hong Kong's free trade agreement with the Mainland of China.
We discussed opportunities in clean coal technology, biometrics and biotechnology.
I highlighted the Hong Kong government's efforts to combat pollution by requiring power companies to implement more environmentally friendly measures in return for a higher permitted rate of return.
In a meeting with Dr. Brian Noland, Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, we discussed research and development programs in such fields as biomedicine, nano-technology, herbal medicine and Chinese medicine.
I also met Betty Carver, Tourism Commissioner of West Virginia. We discussed the appeal of West Virginia's natural beauty and Hong Kong's major tourist attractions.
While in Columbus, Ohio, I met Ohio Department of Development officials to discuss alternative energy, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, logistics and personalized healthcare.
Hong Kong Commissioner Margaret Fong meets
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III
Speaking at the Distinguished Speaker Series of Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business, I gave a presentation titled, "Hong Kong: The World's Gateway to Asia," in which I spotlighted Hong Kong's core advantages as an international business center and entry point to the Mainland market thanks in part to CEPA.
I spoke at luncheon events co-hosted by the Charleston Area Alliance and the Ohio Department of Development during respective visits to Charleston and Columbus where I emphasized the growing opportunities for U.S. businesses and investors in Hong Kong.
In February, I paid a three-day visit to California.
During a visit to Sacramento, I met Lt. Governor John Garamendi and exchanged views on environmental issues, port security, and university exchange programs between Hong Kong and the United States.
I took the opportunity to highlight growing economic and cultural collaboration between Hong Kong and the State of California.
I also met State Senator Dick Ackerman, Senate Republican Leader; Senator Leland Yee, Assistant President pro Tempore; and State Assembly member Van Tran, Chair of Assembly Select Committee on International Trade.
I briefed the Senators and the Assembly member on Hong Kong's robust economy and the city's competitive advantages.
Lastly, I spoke at a business luncheon co-hosted by the California Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco.
The event attracted guests from various business sectors and the public service, with Lt. Governor John Garamendi, Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman, Secretary for Environmental Protection Linda Adams and several State Assembly members among them.
I look forward to continuing my visits across America to share the unique Hong Kong story with friends in every state.
Margaret Fong
Hong Kong Commissioner, USA
HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
1520 18th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202)331-8947 Fax: (202)331-8958
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