The Better Hong Kong Foundation Accomplished Its Delegation to the United States In 2008

The Better Hong Kong Foundation (“the Foundation”) sent its annual delegation to the United States from 15^th to 21^st June this year. A press conference was held today to brief members of the media about the main issues dealt with during their stay in the U.S.. Members of the delegation also shared their observation and experience gained from the trip.

This year’s delegation was led by the Foundation’s Executive Director Miss Karen TANG,  included members: Mr. Daniel R. FUNG, Vice-Chairman of the Salzburg Global Seminar, Board of Governors of the East-West Center, National Delegate of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chairman of the Broadcasting Authority, Senior Counsel of the Hong Kong Bar, Solicitor-General of Hong Kong (1994-98); Mr. James E. THOMPSON, GBS, the Founder and Chairman of the Crown Worldwide Group and former Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong for 2002 and 2003; and the Foundation’s Council members Ms. Winnie NG, Executive Director of the Kowloon Motor Bus Co. Ltd; Dr. Gerald CHOW, Executive Director of Chow Sang Sang Holdings International Ltd and Mr. Joseph YU, Chairman of the Roseville Group of Companies.

This annual mission to US took place before the U.S. Presidential Election. Irrespective of whichever candidate succeeds in November, the policies of the incoming President Elect will herald material departures from the present incumbent. With that in mind, the Foundation visited New York and Washington D.C. and took the temperature of all the major players in both metropolises and exchanged views with them. The delegation visited the Executive Branch (including: the U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Commerce); the Legislative Branch (Congressmen and staffers including those of Senator Obama); think tanks inside the Beltway (the Brookings Institution, Center for Strategic & International Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The CATO Institute, Heritage Foundation, East-West Center, US-Asia Institute, etc); think tanks in New York City (including National Committee on US-China Relations and Asia Society); professional bodies (American Bar Association); financial institutions (Morgan Stanley); rating agencies (Standard & Poor’s) and media representatives. 

During the mission, the delegation also attended dinner hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. for the Chinese delegation of the Strategic Economic Dialogue led by the Vice Premier Wang Qishan; and participated in the public talks and luncheons hosted by the Hong Kong Association of New York; by American Bar Association; by the Fund for American Studies and Asia Institute for Political Economy, where Mr. Daniel R. FUNG and Mr. James E. THOMPSON gave speeches. The delegation was also invited to the lunches and dinner hosted by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China based in New York, by the Chinese Embassy to the US, and by the Permanent Mission of the PRC to the UN.

Miss Karen TANG said at the conference that the theme of this year’s trip was “ Hong Kong : an ideal place to live and to invest”. “We meant to share the strategic position and value of Hong Kong to China and to the region, especially with its well established core value and system and its proximity to the Mainland. Hong Kong has been ranked as the world’s freest economy. It is a vibrant international city with low tax rate, sound international legal system and practices, free flow of capital and information; and accessibility to the Mainland China market, which retains and attracts talents and funds to stay and to come. Hong Kong ‘s education system with global perspectives and international exposure is also highly valued” explained Miss Tang.

Mr. Daniel FUNG commented that “The upshot of our full and frank discussions over five days is that the United States have no burning issues with regard to Hong Kong and acknowledge that our governance, economy and rule of law after reversion to Chinese sovereignty have all been a remarkable success, although they will look with interest at our democratic development after 2017. As for China, the United States recognize that Sino-US relations constitute the single more important strategic bilateral relationship in the world of the 21st Century. The conclusion reached by consensus with our interlocutors at the end of our weeklong mission is that, despite challenges in many areas including trade, currency, the environment, security including energy security, human rights, IPR protection, democracy and the rule of law, Sino-US relations will not merely remain stable but will continue to deepen, including deepening into strategic cooperation (including energy security and green tech), and the incoming US President Elect will likely govern from the center.”

Mr. James THOMPSON shared that “I felt that our dialogue with numerous influential people in New York and Washington helped us relay the importance of Hong Kong’s position in the relationship between China and the United States. I came away from our trip with strong feelings that there is a keen understanding among America’s most influential ‘movers and shakers’ that the world is focusing on China as we enter the Asian Century. Regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, I have confidence that trade and political relations with the United States will remain strong.” 

Mr. Joseph YU, a newly joined Council Member, told us that he was glad to participate in this meaningful trip. He looked forward to more dialogues like this in the future. 

The other two Foundation’s members could not attend today’s press conference. However, Ms. Winnie NG, who has participated in the Foundation’s delegation to the U.S for three times, believed that “the Beijing Olympics marks a watershed in the development of China and an opportunity to further boost the international stature of Hong Kong”. And Dr. Gerald CHOW further explained that “ China ‘s rise has always been complex and evolving. As it promotes an export based economy while maintaining domestic stability in today’s flattened world, it is often faced with many daunting challenges. U.S.-Sino relations, in particular, have never before been in a delicate balance with strong nationalistic sentiment on both sides. With the coming U.S. election and perhaps, a more engaging foreign policy towards China with the new administration, this relationship can grow ever stronger through Hong Kong ‘s role in working as a bridge between these two great nations. That Hong Kong will continue to maintain a special place in the future of China is without question; but it is perhaps more compelling to imagine the possibilities of Hong Kong’s role in a world where China ‘s influence has never been greater.”

Miss Tang thanked the delegates and all the organizations visited for their support in making the delegation a tremendous success. The Foundation would continue its dedication in enhancing greater international understanding between East and West by facilitating communications between Hong Kong, China and the international community. The Foundation would endeavour to organize this kind of visits for more exchanges and to promote better understanding to each other.

Click here for itinerary details, photos and bios of delegates.  

For enquires, please contact the Project Officer Miss Fifi YU at (852) 2865 3529 or email: fifi_yu@betterhongkong.org

The Better Hong Kong Foundation was founded in 1995. It is a privately funded non-profit organization, formed by leading Hong Kong business and community leaders to enhance greater international understanding between East and West by facilitating communications between Hong Kong, China and the international community. As we strive to create an even better Hong Kong for ourselves and our families, we are turning the promise of “One Country Two Systems” and a high degree of autonomy into reality. The Foundation’s mission is to share this sense of confidence in the future of the Special Administrative Region with overseas business and political leaders.