Hong Kong & Chinafeature
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sponsored by Hong Kong & ChinaFeature “Hong Kong is an excellent base from which UK companies Marco Polo Hotels can enter the mainland Away from the comforts of home on a business trip – you might as well enjoy the comforts of one of Kong China market.” Ian Bailey, Trade Commissioner, British Consulate General Hong Kong Kong’s most elite hotels p2 Hong Kong Sevens Choose the timing of your business trip and take in one of the world’s most thrilling sports events p4 Oasis Hong Kong Buy one get one free is the amazing offer on Business Class flights from Oasis Hong Kong Airlines p8 Marco Polo Hotels Who is who John A. Girard, General Manager of Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel and Area Director of Marco Polo’s three hotels in Hong Kong, has lived in Hong Kong since 1987. Maltese-born John joined the Marco Polo Hotel Group in 1992 as General Manager of Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel. In 1998, he was appointed as General Manager of all three hotels, giving him the distinction of having the largest room inventory (1,500 rooms) of any hotel GM in Hong Kong! John has carved something of a reputation for himself for his unwavering enthusiasm for the hotels under his care, personally endorsing the hotels by appearing ` in countless promotions and PR activities such as posing as the in- ituated on the waterfront three Marco Polo hotels to suit all house poolside model for a summer overlooking Victoria Harbour, tastes and budgets: the promotion. He has been both a Sthe Marco Polo Hongkong Hongkong, Gateway and Prince. snowman and Santa Claus in winter Hotel has without doubt one of promotions, and even donned his pyjamas for a photo shoot to the best views in the world. During The three hotels are all adjacent to promote the hotel’s wide range of different pillows! John’s latest the day it is so relaxing to watch each other starting at the waterfront ‘costume’ appearance was at the Hong Kong 7’s, where he was the ferries, boats and ships passing and featuring throughout promoting the latest Marco Polo headgear. and by night the lights across the Harbour City, Hong Kong's harbour on Hong Kong Island are largest shopping, entertainment simply fascinating. and commercial centre. Edward E. Snoeks, the General Manager of Prince Hotel, joined the Designed for the pleasure and Marco Polo Hotels are easily Marco Polo Group in 2003. Edward comfort of the modern business accessible by all modes of started as Resident Manager of and holiday traveller, there are transport. The pleasant ride on Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel and by the Star Ferry to Hong Kong August 2006 had been promoted to Island's central business district General Manager of Prince Hotel. He takes only seven minutes and the is a recent graduate of the Cornell MTR (Mass Transit Railway) University Hotel School’s prestigious stations and bus stations to the General Manager Program. airport or mainland are all nearby. www.marcopolohotels.com No hotel is complete without a good Concierge, and the Marco Polo Hongkong and Prince Hotels have two of the world’s best…..Tony Lo (below left) has been at the Hongkong for 20 years and Lewis Li (below right) at the Prince for 23 years. Next time you are staying at their hotel, stop by for a chat with these icons of the hotel industry - their depth of knowledge about Hong Kong will amaze you! China:2 How Hong Kong can help companies in their strategy for the China market ong Kong is one of the cargo airport, handling 3.4 more open Chinese mainland major centres for business million tonnes in 2005, and has economy to shift manufacturing Hin Asia and an increasingly hundreds of international from Hong Kong to the Pearl integral part of the mainland passenger flights each day River Delta region, helping to China economy. It is an important • Its container port handled 22.6 drive China's remarkable recent market in its own right (third million container units (TEU) of economic growth. It is estimated largest export destination in Asia cargo in 2005 that over 60,000 Hong Kong after Japan and China) as well as companies employ over 10 million being an excellent base for British Stable government and rule of people in the Pearl River Delta. businesses looking to extend their law activities into the Chinese In response to this movement mainland, and also into the wider •Hong Kong is politically of manufacturing industry, Asian region. Hong Kong was stable, with an independent Hong Kong took on higher Despite moves towards improving returned to China in 1997, having judiciary and an effective value-added roles, developing the rule of law and developing a become one of the leading civil service expertise in management and more business-friendly financial centres in Asia. Concern •Intellectual property rights law business services. This environment, mainland China that Chinese control would affect and enforcement is robust concentration of expertise close remains a potential risk for any its position was largely •There is transparency in to mainland China is a great business investment. Hong Kong's unfounded, as Hong Kong retains regulation, a low level of resource for businesses wishing legal system and pool of a high degree of autonomy over corruption and a level playing to access the mainland market experience in dealing with the its own affairs, including setting field for business and Asia more widely. Hong mainland makes it an option for its own taxes, fiscal policy and Kong's characteristics have led companies who want to mitigate laws. It is only in the fields of Availability of business to over 1,200 global companies this risk. Hong Kong's laws on defence and foreign policy that services and workforce choosing it as the location for intellectual property and the China has full control. their Asian regional effectiveness of their enforcement •There is a very well-developed headquarters. are attractive for companies with Hong Kong's benefits market for financial, IT and high-value intellectual property. business support services Hong Kong's companies also Geographical location •Also a skilled, productive have extensive relationships with The special characteristics of labour force their counterparts in mainland Hong Kong's business • Ideally placed on the doorstep •Cantonese, English and China. By forming partnerships environment provide valuable of the Pearl River Delta, Putonghua are all widely spoken with Hong Kong firms, overseas resources and opportunities that centrally located in East Asia companies can make use of should be considered in any • Excellent communication and Hong Kong was already a major these links which would business strategy to expand into transport links investor in China when it was otherwise take a long time to Asia, and especially into the • Hong Kong International handed back in 1997. Hong Kong build, easing the route to doing mainland Chinese market. Airport is the world's leading companies took advantage of a business in the mainland. It is now nearly ten years With its autonomy in trade since Hong Kong was and financial matters, handed back to China Hong Kong is free to set under what is known as up its own treaties and the “One Country, Two agreements in these areas Systems" arrangement. (it is a member of the This allows Hong Kong to WTO in its own right). have a high degree of People who think that Ian Bailey, Trade autonomy in all areas Hong Kong is now just Tony Collingridge, Head of the Africa Team in London, Commissioner, British apart from foreign affairs another Chinese city are Asia Pacific and Africa Team, managing the effort to attract Consulate General Hong Kong and defence. Hong Kong badly mistaken. Hong Inward Investment Group inward investment from the therefore has retained its Kong has maintained all UK Trade & Investment Region. He was recently Ian was recently appointed capitalist system and has a the attributes that have appointed as Head of the Trade Commissioner at the separate Government from made it successful, Tony Collingridge has had UK Trade & Investment Asia British Consulate General in the mainland. It has its including the rule of law, more than 12 years Pacific Regional Team based Hong Kong having spent eight“own currency, passport, free movement of people experience of working with in Hong Kong, where his years at the Foreign Office. His customs regime and legal and goods, and freedom companies in the Asia Pacific responsibilities now include previous postings include Seoul system, the latter still of expression. It is an Region, first working with UK regional trade opportunities and Oman. based on UK Common excellent base from which companies looking to do for UK companies, as well as Law. People from UK companies can enter business in Australia and New inward investment. [email protected] mainland China need a the mainland China market. Zealand, and more recently, visa to enter Hong Kong. as Head of the Asia Pacific & [email protected] www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk ” China:3 Hong Kong Sevens n one of the most joining the fun in 2008 as arco Polo Hotels Heinz wishes he had time bizarre Cup finals ever the 40,000 tickets sell out is the official to get to the Sevens, but Iseen in the history of in no time, a true Mhotel group for he is so dedicated to his the Hong Kong Sevens, testimony to the the Cathay Pacific/Credit catering team at the Samoa scored five first popularity of this amazing Suisse Hong Kong Sevens. Marco Polo Hongkong half tries, three by an event that Hong Kong Hotel that he has yet to awesome Mikaele showcases so magnificently Heinz Oertli, the Swiss- make it to a match.