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Some 300 guests, including government officials and community leaders, gathered at a reception hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco today (February 6, San Francisco time) to welcome the Year of the Snake.
The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, sent his well wishes via a video message. He said that Chinese New Year is a wonderful time of year in Hong Kong. "It is also a time to reflect on our achievements in the past year and look ahead to a bright future. The past 12 months has been a very busy time in the Hong Kong political calendar. We ushered in a new Government and then a new Legislative Council.
"In my first Policy Address in January, I highlighted ways that we will enhance Hong Kong's status as a premier gateway to the Mainland of China for Hong Kong companies and for overseas firms based in Hong Kong," he said.
The Chief Executive welcomed the guests to make full use of Hong Kong's advantages and opportunities. In welcoming the guests, the Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, Mr Donald Tong, said ties between Hong Kong and the United States have continued to solidify. The United States remains the single largest source of overseas companies in Hong Kong with around 1 400 firms. Mr Tong said that Hong Kong is the 10th largest export destination for American exports. "US goods exports to Hong Kong amounted to over US$33 billion in the first 11 months in 2012.
"Apart from serving as an important gateway to help overseas companies enter the Mainland of China, Hong Kong serves as a conduit to help Mainland companies to go global in reaching other markets, including the US," Mr Tong said.
Echoing Mr Tong's comments, the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco, Mr Jeff Leung, said that many companies in California have also expanded in Hong Kong. "California and Hong Kong continue to have strong economic ties. Hong Kong is the sixth biggest export destination of California. For the first nine months of 2012, more than US$5.7 billion of merchandise was exported from California to Hong Kong," he said.
In addition to welcoming the Chinese New Year, the reception was also an occasion to farewell Mr Jeff Leung and welcome the new Director, Ms Subrina Chow.
Looking back at the past three and a half years as Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco, Mr Leung said that he visited many states in the western part of the United States to build and strengthen the trade, economic and cultural ties between Hong Kong and the western states.
"Through meetings, talks and discussions with government representatives, trade organisations and academia, I am glad to learn that Hong Kong is a place where they will do business and visit," he said.
Hong Kong has always been a fast-paced city that means business, said Ms Chow at the reception. She is glad to have the opportunity to return to San Francisco and work in the office again. Ms Chow was the Deputy Director of the office from 1998-2001.
Since her last posting to San Francisco some 11 years ago, Hong Kong has made a lot of progress on many fronts. "While Hong Kong remains the freest economy in the world, our dynamic city has also reinforced its status as an international hub for trade, finance, aviation and shipping. Hong Kong is now the premier Renminbi business centre and has risen to become one of the world's most prominent platforms for wine trade," she said.
Ms Chow also referred to innovation and technology as well as arts and culture as new economic sectors that Hong Kong seeks to develop with its unique strengths and advantages. "I treasure every opportunity to tell the Hong Kong stories to our trade partners, to further our office's network, to facilitate the sharing of ideas, to promote cultural exchanges and to foster a more diverse range of partnerships between Hong Kong and the United States," she said.
Ms Chow will assume duty as Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco on February 7 (San Francisco time).
Ends/Thursday, February 7, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:39
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