You may associate surf wear and skate gear with Orange County, but factor in semiconductors and software, Hong Kong and China, and you have the beginnings of intricate product cycles that form the basis of a growing number of local businesses expanding into Asia. On November 5, the HKASC Orange County Chapter, along with the Los Angeles office of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Irvine Chamber of Commerce and other trade groups hosted a business seminar at the Irvine Marriott hotel on Hong Kong's pivotal role in facilitating economic opportunities for US companies in China. A panel of industry experts shared their experiences in utilizing Hong Kong as a platform for successful China strategies.

Following welcoming remarks by Irvine Chamber of Commerce Chair Paul Hernandez, Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide Chair and event moderator Christopher Leu introduced keynote speaker Stephen Wong, the HKTDC Regional Director for the Americas. Wong provided the foundation of the seminar by outlining Hong Kong's advantages as a business and operations center for penetrating the China market. Its strategic location, international business environment and optimal service sector are key factors for businesses seeking to tap the Asia market, and the HKTDC is its "secret weapon." For over 35 years, the HKTDC has facilitated cross-country connections by providing networking opportunities, business-matching services and trade promotion events in both the US and Asia. For businesses seeking to formulate or refine their China strategy, the HKTDC provides resources and links for the three business fundamentals: buying, selling and representation.

Hong Kong's importance as a strategic center was testified to by a panel of industry leaders: Nader Nemati, Global Director of Epicor Software Corp; Dr. W. C. Wong, President and CEO of KBQuest Group; Dr. Andy Yuen, Corporate Vice President of International Operations of Miscrosemi Corp; and Teresa Nersesyan, Director of Sourcing Operations of Pacific Sunwear of California. Nader Nemati opened the discussion by situating the importance of Hong Kong as a business hub in an increasingly globalized world. Epicor Software provides innovative enterprise software to clients worldwide, and Hong Kong is the gateway for Epicor operations in south China. Localization means going beyond mere translation, Nemati explained, and vital business operations such as deployment and consulting are handled by the regional office in Hong Kong. Many high-tech industries are shifting upstream development processes, and Hong Kong is fast becoming the ideal site for areas such as research and development, project management and technology transfer.

Communication, connections and know-how are advantages that businesses can expect from Hong Kong, Teresa Nersesyan concurred. Overseeing the logistics, sourcing, and fiscal components for the 1,100-store retail chain Pacific Sunwear, Nersesyan works closely with agents, suppliers and trading companies in Hong Kong to handle the fast-changing and demanding production cycles of the company's clothing, shoe and accessory lines. China has the ideal infrastructure for value-added manufacturing, but Nersesyan asserted that the most important relationships she has built are with her contacts in Hong Kong, whose intelligence, integrity and flexibility enforces Hong Kong's position as the strategic hub of Asia.

For additional information on how you can turn China into opportunity via Hong Kong, visit the HKTDC's comprehensive web portal at www.tdctrade.com. The website, which currently receives upwards of seven million hits daily, links over 60 world partners and features information on outreach programs, trade fairs and networking events sponsored by the HKTDC. Communication is key to expanding your business, and Hong Kong is the "international city that speaks your language."

After his closing remarks, HKASC Orange County Chapter Chair Dennis Lee drawn and presented a roundtrip Los Angeles/Hong Kong air ticket, courtesy of Cathay Pacific Airways, to the luckiest one among the some 150 guests attending the event.