FOREIGN
RELATIONS
FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Hong Kong's foreign relations and defense are the responsibility
of China. Hong Kong is an independent customs territory and economic
entity separate from the rest of China and is able to enter into
international agreements on its own behalf in commercial and economic
matters. Hong Kong, independently of China, participates as a
full member of numerous international economic organizations including
the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum (APEC), and the Financial Action Task Force
(FATF).
U.S.-HONG
KONG RELATIONS
U.S. policy toward Hong Kong, grounded in a determination to promote
Hong Kong's prosperity, autonomy, and way of life, is stated in
the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992. The United States maintains
substantial economic and political interests in Hong Kong. The
United States supports Hong Kong's autonomy by concluding and
implementing bilateral agreements; promoting trade and investment;
arranging high-level visits; broadening law enforcement cooperation;
bolstering educational, academic, and cultural links; and supporting
the large community of U.S. citizens and visitors.
Hong
Kong is an active member of the global coalition against terrorism.
Hong Kong has joined the Container Security Initiative and remains
an important partner with regard to eliminating funding for terrorist
networks and combating money laundering. Hong Kong has passed
legislation designed to bring Hong Kong into compliance with applicable
UN anti-terror resolutions and Financial Action Task Force recommendations.
The United States has substantial economic and social ties with Hong Kong. There are some 1,100 U.S. firms, including 881 regional operations (298 regional headquarters and 593 regional offices), and about 54,000 American residents in Hong Kong. According to U.S. Government statistics, U.S. exports to Hong Kong totaled $17.8 billion in 2006. U.S. direct investment in Hong Kong at the end of 2006 totaled about $38.1 billion, making the United States one of Hong Kong's largest investors, along with China, Japan, and the Netherlands.
The
United States and Hong Kong signed a new civil aviation agreement
in October 2002, which significantly liberalized the aviation
market. Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy as a separate
customs territory, with no changes to borders, staffing, or technology
export controls since the 1997 handover. Intellectual property
rights (IPR) protection has improved substantially in recent years
and the introduction of effective new legislation to control illicit
production and improved enforcement has now made Hong Kong a regional
model for effective IPR protection. The Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative and other U.S. agencies now regularly cite Hong
Kong as an example for others.
The Hong Kong Government maintains three Economic and Trade Offices in the United States. Addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites for these offices are listed below:
1520 - 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 331-8947
Fax: (202) 331-8958
Web Site: http://www.hketowashington.gov.hk/dc/index.htm
115 East 54th Street
New York, NY 10022
Tel: (212) 752-3320
Fax: (212) 752-3395
Web Site: http://www.hketony.gov.hk/ny/index.htm
130 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
Tel: (415) 835-9300
Fax: (415) 421-0646
Web Site: http://www.hketosf.gov.hk/sf/index.htm
Principal U.S. Officials
Consul General--James B. Cunningham
Deputy Principal Officer--Chris Marut
The U.S. Consulate General is located at 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2523-9011 (general). Fax: (852) 2845-1598 (general); (852) 2147-5790 (consular); (852) 2845-9800 (commercial).
