The Better Hong Kong Foundation Organizes High-Level Delegation to the United States From 15 to 21 June, 2008 To New York and Washington D.C.

The Better Hong Kong Foundation “the Foundation” will organize its annual delegation to the United States from 15th to 21st June this year. The delegation will visit influential leaders from government, Congress, academia, business, media, think tanks and NGOs in New York and Washington D.C., to update them about Hong Kong’s recent development and economic outlook.

Ms. Karen TANG will be the leader of this delegation and the delegates include: 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 Member Ms. Winnie NG, Executive Director of the Kowloon Motor Bus Co. Ltd; and Dr. Gerald CHOW, Executive Director of Chow Sang Sang Holdings International Ltd.

Ms. Karen TANG said that “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. I hope that we can share our experience and belief with the opinion leaders and decision makers in the States during our visit”.

Mr. Daniel FUNG is invited as one of the guests of the delegation. His rich legal experience and knowledge in constitution; and his long time participation in China and international affairs will definitely benefit the U.S. influential political and economic leaders to better understand Hong Kong’s advantage in rule of law and its strategic role in the China and international scene. Mr. FUNG hopes that this delegation can help “to promote a better understanding of the strategic role played by Hong Kong in enriching the multi-dimensional Sino-US dialogue and engagement and enhancing Sino-US relations in general in advance of the November Presidential Election”. Mr. James E. THOMPSON has invested and lived in Hong Kong for almost thirty years. His confidence, dedication and contribution to Hong Kong can best demonstrate his belief in the theme of the delegation this year “Hong Kong: an ideal place to live and to invest”. Mr. THOMPSON said that “I look forward to exchanging ideas with my fellow Americans and most importantly, providing them with some details as to why I view Hong Kong as the most dynamic city in Asia and explain the positive impact Hong Kong has on China.”
       
This will be the third time that Ms. Winnie NG participates in the Foundation’s delegation to the U.S.. She believes that “the Beijing Olympics marks a watershed in the development of China and an opportunity to further boost the international stature of Hong Kong”. Dr. Gerald CHOW, who has just completed a master degree course from the Harvard University, will take part in the delegation as well.

The delegation will attend the dinner hosted in Washington D.C. for the Chinese delegation of the Strategic Economic Dialogue led by the Vice Premier Wang Qi Shan; and will participate in the public talks and luncheons hosted by the Hong Kong Association of New York; American Bar Association; the Fund for American Studies and Asia Institute for Political Economy, where Mr. Daniel R. FUNG and Mr. James E. THOMPSON are invited to speak.

The delegation will meet with think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; with U.S. government officials in charge of economic and Asia policy; and with the campaign teams for the 2008 US presidential election. The delegation will also attend luncheons 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.

Ms. TANG expressed her gratitude to the delegates for their support and promised to share the with the media the delegation’s result after the trip.

Click here for the draft itinerary of the delegation and bios of delegates.

For more details or enquires, please contact the Foundation’s Project Officer Miss YU Feifei at (852) 2865 3529 or email to: fifi_yu@betterhongkong.org