Better Hong Kong Foundation Calls Freest Economy Ranking A Global Endorsement of the SAR Business Environment

Today the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal reaffirmed Hong Kong’s status as the world’s freest economy in their 2000 Index of Economic Freedom.

George Yuen, Chief Executive of the Better Hong Kong Foundation, said, “this latest ranking is a global endorsement of Hong Kong’s business environment. Hong Kong has always and continues to maintain its basic freedoms, especially speech and free-flow of information.”

The Foundation said that it was particularly pleased that Hong Kong improved its score in the monetary policy category of the 2000 Index. In commenting on Hong Kong’s policies toward capital flows and foreign investment, the Foundation noted that the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal “recognized that Hong Kong’s government is one of the most receptive to investment in the world.”

The Foundation said that the comments made by the two co-publishers of the economic freedom index regarding Hong Kong’s trade policy were something in which all members of the Hong Kong business community could take particular pride. “In acknowledging that Hong Kong has one of the world’s most accessible markets, the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal were also endorsing the level playing field for companies from around the world that has been created by both the public and private sectors in Hong Kong,” said Mr. Yuen.

The Foundation believes that this latest ranking will be extremely important in Hong Kong’s ongoing efforts to attract foreign direct investment and to generate new trade opportunities for Hong Kong companies. According to the Foundation, “this ranking sends an important signal to the international business community that Hong Kong still represents one of the best places in the world to do business.”

 

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The Better Hong Kong Foundation is a privately funded, non-profit, non-political organization, formed by leading Hong Kong business people. The Foundation aims to reinforce Hong Kong’s role as the regional leading financial, shipping, trading and communications centre. It also serves to enhance greater international understanding between East and West. The Foundation is committed to facilitating communication between Hong Kong and China and the international community.