ATTN: NEWS / BUSINESS EDITORS

New AmCham Chairman Confident Hong Kong will be able to
Continue “Building on Success”

Robert Chipman, the incoming 2011 AmCham Chairman, today emphasized the Chamber’s continuing commitment in helping Hong Kong to maintain and enhance its competitiveness in an ever challenging and global economy.

Chipman – Chief Executive Officer of Asian Tigers KC Dat, a leading executive relocation firm headquartered in Hong Kong – praised Hong Kong’s unrivaled ability to adjust and reinvent itself to adapt to new circumstances, especially during the recent global economic downturn. However, Chipman warned Hong Kong not to “rest on its laurels” and instead advised it to continue focusing on maintaining its core industries while developing new competencies in other areas. What is important in addressing the current challenges, Chipman said, is how well Hong Kong can focus on issues ranging from “responding to the competitive challenges from other cities in the region, in particular Shanghai and Singapore, seizing the opportunities from increased integration with the Pearl River Delta, dealing with the rising costs of doing business in Hong Kong, to tackling air pollution and other environmental matters.”

Referring to AmCham’s 42-year history in Hong Kong, Chipman also emphasized that the Chamber and its members have a rich legacy of working closely with the government and the community to build business competitiveness and encourage the expansion of the HKSAR’s core competencies.
In 2011, Chipman said that AmCham would especially focus on three priority areas that would better serve its members and enhance Hong Kong’s world city status by:
- Expanding its China agenda, leveraging Hong Kong’s world-class professional services to make Hong Kong the investment gateway of choice for going both into and out of China.

- Continuing to address environmental and related infrastructure issues, with special emphasis on roadside air pollution.

- Urging Hong Kong to become a global education & talent center - reaching out to students and institutions around the world to study or set up operations in Hong Kong - while also encouraging the government to expand its current educational facilities to accommodate more international students.

Overall, Chipman highlighted the optimism held by the American business community for the continued growth of Hong Kong. However, he emphasized that growth does not come without challenges, and that those challenges would need to be addressed through clear leadership and bold actions. Chipman reiterated that the Chamber stood ready to face those challenges with Hong Kong moving forward. Chipman succeeds Michael S. Brown, Managing Director & Asia Corporate Banking Head of JP Morgan Chase Bank, in leading Hong Kong’s largest foreign chamber of commerce.

For inquiries, please contact Government Relations Executive, Mr. Dannio Chan at 2530-6917, or by email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

A copy of the Chairman’s Inaugural Address and photos of Chairman Robert Chipman and President Richard Vuylsteke will be made available at: www.amcham.org.hk