Hong Kong Circle: Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington D.C. Newsletter

From the Commissioner

January 2008

Dear Friends, happy New Year.

Hong Kong began the New Year with welcome news as The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal once again ranked the city as the world's freest economy in the 2008 Index of Economic Freedom.

This marks the 14th consecutive year Hong Kong has topped the ranking as the "poster economy" for the world.

It is an acknowledgement of Hong Kong's observance of free-market principles and the rule of law, as well as testament of Hong Kong people's entrepreneurial spirit.

The basis for Hong Kong's economic achievements is a key part of my message as I travel across the United States.

I began the year with a three-day visit to Nevada where I called on Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki. During our meeting, we exchanged views on the development of convention and exhibition businesses as well as tourism promotion.

The Lt. Governor expressed particular interest in attracting more visitors from Hong Kong and the Mainland of China. As part of this effort, Nevada was planning to establish a new representative office in China to promote tourism.

I took the opportunity to share with him the advantages of establishing such an office in Hong Kong and invited him to visit the city to meet with key players in the industry.

I then moved on to Las Vegas attending the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the largest show of its kind in the world, where the latest technological inventions and innovations were on display. I also met with representatives of the Consumer Electronics Association, the organiser of CES, and encouraged them to hold an Asia edition of CES in Hong Kong.

More recently, I returned from a visit to Arkansas where I met with Governor Mike Beebe and Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter to exchange views on trade relations between Hong Kong and Arkansas and discussed areas of collaboration.

I also called on U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor while in Little Rock. I discussed with the Senators ways to augment Hong Kong's trade relationship with Arkansas, particularly in the areas of biotechnology and nanotechnology.

I was honoured to be invited to speak at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service on the topic, "Hong Kong-US: Partners in Trade and Beyond." I shared with the audience the intimate cultural ties and close partnership between Hong Kong and the U.S., in areas ranging from trade to education, to port security and public health.

No visit to Arkansas would be complete without a visit to Bentonville where I met with officials at Wal-Mart's corporate headquarters and spoke at a breakfast event hosted by the Arkansas World Trade Center.

If January is any indication, 2008 is shaping up to be a busy year as I continue to extend our circle of friends across the United States.

I wish you all the best for the New Year.

Margaret Fong

Hong Kong Commissioner, USA

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