Major telecoms group moves Asia Pacific HQ to Hong Kong

International telecommunications group, British Telecommunications (BT), has relocated its Asia Pacific headquarters from Australia to Hong Kong to oversee the company's operations in the region.

And today (July 31) the Financial Secretary, Mr Antony Leung, met senior executives of BT Ignite, British Telecommunications' international broadband and solutions business division.

From its base in Hong Kong, BT Ignite aims to support multi-site corporations operating in Asia, with a particular focus on the China market.

Mr Leung said the relocation of the company's Asia Pacific headquarters to Hong Kong reflected BT's strong commitment to the region and its understanding of the advantages of doing business in Hong Kong.

"We welcome and encourage multinational corporations to leverage on Hong Kong as a decision-making centre to manage their growing business in the Asia Pacific region," said Mr Leung.

"These HQs will contribute towards business spending and create high value-added jobs, providing a boost to Hong Kong's economy."

Mr Leung said the Asia Pacific market offered the best potential for growth in the next decade and beyond and Hong Kong's strengths made it a superb partner for foreign-owned companies eager to do business with China.

The Chief Executive Officer of BT Ignite, Mr Andy Green said BT had been committed to the region and Hong Kong for more than 15 years with the local Hong Kong and China operations going from strength to strength.

"Asia Pacific continues to be critical to BT's global strategy. To many multinational corporations, Hong Kong is the preferred business hub for the Asia Pacific, and the President of BT Ignite Asia Pacific, Mr Graham Moore, has taken Hong Kong as his operational base since July," said Mr Green.

During today's meeting, the Financial Secretary was accompanied by the acting Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr John Wan, who said BT's expanded presence would further strengthen Hong Kong's position as a world-class telecommunications centre.

"We will continue to work closely with the various regional HQs and regional offices already established here to provide all the necessary support," Mr Wan said.

Invest Hong Kong is a government department charged with attracting and facilitating foreign investment into nine priority industry sectors in the city. Regional headquarters and regional operations are also considered as targets, which extend across all industries.

The nine targeted sectors are telecommunications, media/multi-media, IT, technology (primarily electronics and biotechnology), tourism and entertainment, financial services, business and professional services, trade related services and transportation.

Ends/Wednesday, July 31, 2002