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Mike Rowse
Director-General, Invest Hong Kong, HKSAR Government
Mr. Rowse is Director-General of Invest Hong
Kong, the award-winning investment promotion agency of the
Hong Kong SAR Government that advises prospective and existing
foreign investors considering or using Hong Kong as a platform
for China and Asia. Invest Hong Kong offers solution-oriented
investment promotion, facilitation, and aftercare services
to inward investors through all stages of the investment
process to take full advantage of Hong Kong's unique role
in China and the Asia Pacific region.
The Invest Hong Kong team of the Hong Kong
Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco provides a full
range of services and information to U.S. enterprises interested
in establishing or expanding their business in Hong Kong.
(From left: Dennis Lee, HKASC Vice President & Orange
County Chapter Chair; Lawrence Chiu, Head, Invest Hong Kong)
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Facilitating the interest of HKASC members
in the Orange County area, a speaker luncheon featuring Invest
Hong Kong Director-General Mike Rowse was co-organized with
Invest Hong Kong, HKSAR Government, at the luxurious AAA Four-Diamond
Hyatt Regency Irvine on Friday, February 1, 2008.
Mike Rowse's presentation titled "Hong Kong - Your
Best Partner and Risk Manager in China" attracted over
90 guests from the financial, legal and technology sectors
in Orange County.
Some of the distinguished guests included
Lawrence Tang, Head, Investment Promotion, HKSAR Government;
Jacquie Ellis, President, Irvine Chamber of Commerce; Jeff
Williamson, State Director, Center of International Trade
Development; Kelly Ma, Marketing Manager, Hong Kong Trade
Development Council; Joe Tosto, Bureau of Industry &
Security, US Dept of Commerce; and Wendy Zimmerman, Vice
President & Branch Manager, Irvine, HSBC Bank.
(From left: Dennis Lee; Mike Rowse; Jeff Williamson, State
Director, CITD; Jacquie Ellis, President, Irvine Chamber
of Commerce)
The Center for International Trade Development,
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce International Business Association,
Irvine Chamber of Commerce and Orange County Business Council
are also sponsors of this event.
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With the United States, Japan and Germany remain in the
first, second, and third places, China has become the world's
fourth largest economy. In projecting the growth of China
in the next 30 years, Mike Rowse made reference to two famous
quotations by China's late leader Deng Xiaoping: "I
don't care if it's a white cat or a black cat. It's a good
cat so long as it catches mice." and "Let some
people get rich first." Under China' reformed policy,
the economic zones of Pearl River Delta, Yantze River Delta
and Shenzhen were unleashed and flourished, and China's
economy may surpass Germany very soon.
As China' population continues to grow, China will encounter
challenges in water supply, housing, employment, education
and environmental issues. All these may mean opportunities
for American companies especially in dealing with environmental
matters in the next 20 to 30 years.
As the southern gateway to China, Hong Kong is the ideal
springboard for American companies looking to enter the
China market. Hong Kong (US$42.9B) and Mainland China (US$69B)
account for over half of the FDI into the region in 2006.
More than 75% of international buyers of consumer products
source Chinese products via Hong Kong. 30% of Mainland'soreign
trade is handled by Hong Kong. Hong Kong is the preferred
location for overseas and Mainland companies managing their
operations in Asia Pacific. Hong Kong is also the largest
capital raising center for Mainland enterprises with over
US$125B raised since 1993.
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In responding to the attendees' interest, Mike Rowse
also briefly commented on the outlook of India versus
China and the role of Hong Kong while facing increasing
competition from Singapore. Although Hong Kong is
an integral part of China, Hong Kong maintains its
advantages of rule of law and separate IP protection,
level playing field, currency convertibility, international
business practices, and transparency and free flow
of information. Hong Kong is an important part of
China's future plan and American companies may take
advantage of CEPA in entering the China market using
the Hong Kong business platform.
Since shifting from a manufacturing-based center
to a service and financial center, Hong Kong does
not "make" things but makes thing happen!
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