Environment, Financial Services Top AmCham's Priority List for 2007 The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong has vowed to continue advocating for action to improve the environment, according to its incoming chairman Gary L. Clinton.
Clinton, Asia Pacific Region Head for Citigroup's Global Relationship Banking business, today succeeded Steve Marcopoto to lead the largest foreign chamber of commerce in Hong Kong.
He said the Chamber will focus on highlighting those member companies and local companies that have taken action on their own to improve the environment.
In his inaugural speech, he urged members to follow the lead of AmCham in signing on to the 'Clean Air Charter' as a first step.
The Charter is the focal point of Project Clean Air, a Hong Kong business sector effort led by the Business Coalition on the Environment, of which AmCham is an active member.
"We intend to broaden the dialog by sponsoring events designed to promote steps that our members can take to make positive improvements to our natural environment," he said.
Clinton highlighted the financial services industry as another key priority for the Chamber in 2007, echoing Chief Executive Donald Tsang's emphasis that this is an area that Hong Kong needs to promote further.
He said AmCham will seek to work more closely with the government to promote the territory to the American business community and broaden the base of international financial services provided in Hong Kong.
The Chamber will also work to help further attract other types of international service providers to Hong Kong – such as hedge funds, private equity firms, asset management companies and others, he said.
"We are pleased with the recent developments allowing Chinese financial institutions to issue yuan-based debt in Hong Kong.
"We also support a larger role for Hong Kong in the trading of RMB," he added.
Meanwhile, Clinton drew attention to the serious lack of school places for children of expatriates in convenient locations.
He said the issue is now listed as a significant concern among AmCham member companies, and affects the ability of companies to bring their best talent to Hong Kong.
The Chamber will continue to engage the government in finding ways to allow existing international schools to expand, as a medium term solution to the problem, he said.
For inquiries, please contact AmCham's Press Affairs Manager, Ms Pamela Ngai, on 2530-6915, or by email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it