By: Sean Luster, Graduate Assistant —
Clement C. M. Leung, the Hong Kong economic commissioner to the United States, visited COBE and gave a presentation on Hong Kong’s advantages, opportunities, and upcoming challenges. Hong Kong is a capitalist region with strong ties to China but serves as a major financial hub in the world economy. Leung used the event, “Hong Kong: Where China and Global Advantages Converge,” to provide information about Hong Kong’s outlook to audience students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Hong Kong’s economy is 93 percent service driven, and its tourism plays a major factor. Over 58 million people visit Hong Kong each year to enjoy attractions for families, sporting events and more. Hong Kong is also seeing a rise in start-ups and innovation, leading to more business ventures taking place in the region. Many opportunities are arising in Hong Kong and Leung hopes more countries will take advantage of them.
During Q&A, audience members asked questions ranging from trade to human rights, to future relations with China. Leung happily answered these questions with examples and his thoughts based on his years of experience working with Hong Kong. Leung encourages anyone interested in further involvement with Hong Kong to reach out to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in Washington D.C., New York or San Francisco.