Hong Kong-US 'very close cooperation' to continue under Trump's leadership: HK official
HONG KONG is keeping a close eye on trade and foreign policy shifts under US president-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration, but the city's top official in the US is largely taking a wait and see attitude.
Hong Kong's commissioner for economic and trade affairs in the US, Clement Leung Cheuk-man, expressed confidence in Washington maintaining a good relationship with Hong Kong, despite Mr Trump repeatedly claiming on the campaign trail that China had stolen jobs that would be taken back to the US, reported the South China Morning Post
One of Mr Trump's manifesto promises was to "instruct the US Trade Representative to bring trade cases against China, both in this country and at the World Trade Organisation". This would put Hong Kong in a potentially risky position, as its main and second largest trading partners are China and the US.
"Of course, we are watching ?It is our responsibility to monitor legislation, policy or other administrative measures [in the US], things that may have an impact on our trade relationship and our economic cooperation," Mr Leung said at Hong Kong's economic and trade office in Washington.
"I would say that this is still [in the] very early days. The election has just been completed. So we are waiting to see, for example, the appointments to key positions of influence, like the secretary of state, his team, and the Treasury etc."
Hong Kong is the ninth largest market for products made in the US, worth US$37 billion last year, Mr Leung said.
"Of course we are looking forward to see whether there will be any change in policies," Mr Leung told the SCMP. "But we are confident that [the] very close cooperation will continue under a Trump administration.
"I'm sure that the US is very keen to preserve its very special relationship with Hong Kong."
Mr Leung added: "I would say that there is still a very strong degree of goodwill among officials, congressional members, within the think tank community and with respect to the business community in the US," Mr Leung said. "I think a lot of that goodwill stems from Hong Kong being a very free economy."
HONG KONG is keeping a close eye on trade and foreign policy shifts under US president-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration, but the city's top official in the US is largely taking a wait and see attitude.
Hong Kong's commissioner for economic and trade affairs in the US, Clement Leung Cheuk-man, expressed confidence in Washington maintaining a good relationship with Hong Kong, despite Mr Trump repeatedly claiming on the campaign trail that China had stolen jobs that would be taken back to the US, reported the South China Morning Post
One of Mr Trump's manifesto promises was to "instruct the US Trade Representative to bring trade cases against China, both in this country and at the World Trade Organisation". This would put Hong Kong in a potentially risky position, as its main and second largest trading partners are China and the US.
"Of course, we are watching ?It is our responsibility to monitor legislation, policy or other administrative measures [in the US], things that may have an impact on our trade relationship and our economic cooperation," Mr Leung said at Hong Kong's economic and trade office in Washington.
"I would say that this is still [in the] very early days. The election has just been completed. So we are waiting to see, for example, the appointments to key positions of influence, like the secretary of state, his team, and the Treasury etc."
Hong Kong is the ninth largest market for products made in the US, worth US$37 billion last year, Mr Leung said.
"Of course we are looking forward to see whether there will be any change in policies," Mr Leung told the SCMP. "But we are confident that [the] very close cooperation will continue under a Trump administration.
"I'm sure that the US is very keen to preserve its very special relationship with Hong Kong."
Mr Leung added: "I would say that there is still a very strong degree of goodwill among officials, congressional members, within the think tank community and with respect to the business community in the US," Mr Leung said. "I think a lot of that goodwill stems from Hong Kong being a very free economy."