Doing business in and with Hong Kong

I attended (2/12/10) a World Affairs Council sponsored lunch promoting Hong Kong. The title of the luncheon talk was “Turning Economic Doldrums Into Opportunities.” The announcement of the lunch said:

Hong Kong has long been a staunch supporter of free trade.   The Washington DC based Heritage Foundation has just ranked it the freest economy in the world for the 16th consecutive year.  At the business luncheon, Mr. Donald Tong will update the Portland audience on Hong Kong's latest developments including measures to stimulate economic performance amid the global economic turmoil and the business opportunities in Hong Kong which make it the gateway to China.  Mr. Tong will also share with the audience the Hong Kong Government's latest initiatives to develop the City into a wine trading and distribution hub in Asia, including the elimination of wine duty in February 2008, as well as other supportive measures such as facilitating the movement of wine into the Mainland China.

Mr. Tong joined the Hong Kong civil service in 1983.  He assumed the post of Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA -- the most senior representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in North America -- in October 2008. As Commissioner, he directs the Hong Kong Government's efforts in promoting US-Hong Kong economic and trade ties, and constituency-building activities in the US.  

Mr. Tong did give an informative update. His powerpoint presentation covered many current aspects of business life in Hong Kong. I’ve put a sampling of the slides online below. I found two points of interest to myself: (1) That Hong Kong keeps enough independence such that Mr. Tong, although based in Washington,DC, does not report to the Chinese Ambassador; and (2) the current efforts by Hong Kong to become a wine distribution center.