In 1968, a group of executives formed an organizing committee to propose the establishment of an American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. This new chamber was designed to represent the ever-growing range of American business interests in the colony. In addition, the Chamber was to serve as a forum for the exchange and development of ideas among members of the business community, both in Hong Kong and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

A New AmCham Renovation in 2006

The Chamber's registration as a society was approved by the Hong Kong government in March 1969. The first office was opened at 322 Edinburgh House and the first official Chamber meeting was held on May 17, 1969 at the American Club. The 1970 ACCHK membership directory lists 128 corporate charter members and 13 individual charter members. An early goal of the Membership Committee was to recruit all of the estimated 400 American companies and individuals resident in Hong Kong. By year-end 1970, total membership had increased to 319.

Officers of ACCHK, as the Chamber was then known, participated as observers in the first meeting of the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC) October 6 and 7, 1969. The very first item on the agenda was the "Gore Amendment" which proposed to eliminate the statutory tax exemption for income earned by overseas U.S. citizens. The amendment was subsequently dropped from the final tax reform bill - a victory for APCAC!

Soon after inauguration, ACCHK embarked on a mission to lobby the U.S. Administration to liberalize Foreign Asset Control restrictions on non-strategic trade with China. The subsequent modification of these regulations represented the first direct political action victory for the Chamber and set the stage for numerous future public policy initiatives. From this modest beginning, the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong has emerged as one of the most influential business organizations in the Asia-Pacific region and remains actively engaged in public policy issues of importance to our membership.

A NEW AMCHAM: RENOVATION AND RENEWAL

The year 2006 has been one of office renovation and staff renewal at AmCham. After significant staff turnover and role changes the year before, including the coming on board of a new president, Jack Maisano, the Year of the Dog has witnessed a renewed vigor and development of a stronger team spirit than ever before. To celebrate completion of AmCham's office renovation and pay due respect to the influences of Chinese culture on our success, lion dancers were summoned to bring luck and happiness in the coming year.
The lion dance is an important tradition in China. Usually the dance is part of festivities like Chinese New Year, the openings of restaurants and weddings. If wellperformed, the lion dance is believed to bring luck and happiness. Although lions are not native in China, they came via the famous Silk Road. Rulers in what is today Iran and Afghanistan sent lions to Chinese emperos as gifts in order to get the right to trade with Silk Road mechants.

AMCHAM 35TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION (1969-2004)