AmCham Raises Tax & Competitiveness Issues

with High-level U.S. Officials

A delegation of seven senior AmCham executives has just completed a five-day schedule of 30 meetings with senior U.S. government officials, Members of Congress, Capitol Hill committee staffers, business organizations, and think tanks in Washington D.C. during the Chamber’s 2009 Doorknock advocacy trip.

The group met with Demetrios Marantis, the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State-designate for Asia & Pacific; Bud Philbrook, Deputy Under Secretary for Farm & Foreign Agriculture Services; and Michelle O'Neillm Acting Under Secretary of the International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. The delegation had discussions as well with other Commerce, State, Agriculture, and Trade officials.

"I was impressed with the willingness of senior officials to take time to meet with us for in-depth conversations on our issues," says AmCham Chairman David Cunningham, the delegation's leader. "I believe we have helped keep Hong Kong on the map in Washington, and certainly we have given increased visibility to our member's business and economic concerns."

AmCham's priority issues in Washington focused on competitiveness and tax issues -- including concerns that the double taxation of Americans overseas was proving detrimental for U.S. competitiveness abroad, and worries that Hong Kong might be designated a "tax haven" by the U.S. Congress, an action that would have severe investment and related business repercussions.

Tax, competitiveness, and overall trade issues were raised in nearly every meeting, including those with senior staff in the Senate Finance Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committees, at the Congressional Research Service, and during Roundtables with scholars at the Brookings and Heritage Foundations.

On Capitol Hill, delegation members participated in a U.S.-China Business Council session with Congressmen Rick Larsen and Mark Kirk, who serve as co-chairs of the U.S.-China Working Group in the House of Representatives. They had just returned from an intensive China trip that included an AmCham Hong Kong business briefing.

The delegation, led by AmCham Chairman David Cunningham (FedEx Express), included Vice Chairman Michael Brown (JP Morgan Chase), Mark Michelson (APCO Worldwide), Hugh Stephens (Time Warner), Alan Turley (FedEx Express), Frank Lavin (Edelman Asia Pacific) and AmCham President Richard Vuylsteke.

The annual Doorknock is an essential part of AmCham’s continuing mission to advocate and seek action on important issues facing its members. The topics highlighted in Washington (see below) are part of continuing meetings held year-round in Hong Kong with local and visiting government officials.

v Arguing against the ‘Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act’, which lists Hong Kong as an offshore tax haven;

v Reducing the double-taxation burden on Americans living aboard (the Section 911 issue);

v Urging increased funding for the US Commercial and Agricultural Services in order to promote more US exports, which in turn creates jobs.

v Addressing the complications and implications of the new US consumer product safety reforms on businesses based in Hong Kong.

"Advocacy on behalf of our members is the backbone of our many activities and programs during the year," says AmCham President Richard Vuylsteke. "The annual Doorknock is a signature event that alerts our government interlocutors in Hong Kong and the United States about some of our most pressing issues."

For inquiries, please contact AmCham’s Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Mark Wong, on 2530-6917, or by email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

致：港聞版/經濟版采訪主任

美國商會就稅務和競爭力議題與美國高層官員會面

美國商會的一個七人代表團剛結束了一連五天在美國華盛頓的游說行程，在五天三十場不同的會面，代表團會見了美國政府高級官員，國會議員，國會委員會職員，和在華盛頓各商業機構和智囊。

在五天的行程裡，代表團會見了美國副貿易代表Demetrios Marantis，候任美國亞洲及太平洋助理國務卿Kurt Campbell，美國農業部外貿農業處副助理部長Bud Philbrook，和商務部國際貿易署代理副署長Michelle O'Neillm。代表團也和別的商務部，國務院，農業部和貿易代表署的官員會面。

“各政府高級官員願意抽空和我們就各相關議題進行深入討論和交換意見，給我們留下深刻印像。”代表團團長美國商會主席David Cunningham說。“透過高層會面，我相信我們的努力有助將香港議題重提到華府官員的記事簿上，可以肯定地說，我們提高了他們對我們會員那些特別關注的營商和經濟議題的注意度。”

美國商會的華盛頓之行的重點在競爭力和稅務問題。這包括了對美國公民雙重征稅損害了美國利益在海外的競爭力，和憂慮美國國會可能將香港列作“避稅天堂”的提議。該提議若實施會對投資和相關的商業活動帶來嚴重的後果。

在代表團和參議院財政委員會，眾議院歲計委員會，參議院和眾議院外交關系委員會的高級職員和國會研究處，布魯金斯基金會和傳統基金會的學者的會談中，稅務，競爭力和整體貿易的議題都必定成為討論題目。

在國會山莊，代表團出席了國會議員Rick Larsen和Mark Kirk參與的由美國中國商務理事會安排的見面。Mr Larsen和Mr Kirk都是眾議院美中中國工作組的聯席主席。兩位主席剛結束了一次豐富的中國之行，當中亦包括了參與了香港美國商會的簡報會。

代表團由美國商會主席David Cunningham(FedEx Express)帶領，成員包括副主席Michael Brown(JP Morgan Chase), Mark Michelson（APCO Worldwide）, Hugh Stephens(Time Warner), Alan Turley(FedEx Express), Frank Lavin（Edelman Asia Pacific）和美國商會會長Richard Vuylsteke.

每年的華盛頓游說是美國商會就會員關心議題推行的宣揚工作中的重要一環。美國商會亦經常透過與香港和其他政府官員見面提出討論這次在華盛頓（下列）所特別提出的議題。

*反對"Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act" ，該法案把香港列為離岸避稅天堂。

*減低海外美國公民雙重負稅負擔。

*促請增加撥款給美國商務部和農業部的推廣署，以增加美國出口和創造新職位。

*處理因美國就新消費品安全改革帶來對香港業界的影響。

“就我們會員關心的議題發聲是我們商會不少活動和項目的重要工作。”美國商會會長Richard Vuylsteke說。“透過一年一度的華盛頓游說之行讓我們提醒雙方在香港和美國的處事者什麼是我們會員最關心的事項。”

如有查詢，請聯絡香港美國商會公共事務經理黃世楨先生：

電話：2530-6917 電郵： This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it