Business in Hong Kong

EENI- School of International Business

Subject (Course): International Trade and Doing Business in Hong Kong. The Asian economic centre. Syllabus:

1. Introduction to the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong
2. Hong Kong: the gateway to China.
3. The Economy of Hong Kong.
4. Pearl River Delta
5. Hongkongese international trade
6. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Hong Kong.
7. Setting up in Hong Kong.
8. Case Study:
   1. Imaginarium in Hong Kong.
   2. Mango in Hong Kong.
9. Agreement on Closer Economic Partnership between New Zealand, Hong Kong, and China.
10. Access to the Hongkongese market
11. Business Plan for Hong Kong

Objectives of the subject “Foreign Trade and Doing Business in the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong”:

1. To analyse the Hongkongese economy and foreign trade
2. To evaluate business opportunities in Hong Kong
3. To understand the importance of Hong Kong as a gateway to the Chinese market
4. To explore Hong Kong's trade relations with the student's country
5. To know Hong Kong's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
6. To examine the profile of Hongkongese companies
7. To develop a business plan for the Hongkongese market

Sample of the subject - Foreign Trade and Doing Business in Hong Kong:

Subject Description (Doing Business in Hong Kong):

Hong Kong has a prime location at the geographical, financial, and economic centre of Asia.

1. Business Executives in Hong Kong have fast and easy access to all the largest markets in the Asia-Pacific region. This strategic position is one of the main reasons for the popularity of Hong Kong as a location for regional operations.
2. Executives can travel back and forth to Beijing, Shanghai, and other major Chinese cities in a single day while making their home in Hong Kong.
3. Situated on the South-east coast of Mainland China, Hong Kong has the huge hinterland, which with 1.3 billion people is the biggest single market in the world.
4. Hong Kong is the biggest foreign direct investment in Mainland China
5. 100 mainland companies are listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
6. At least 1,800 Mainland-backed companies are incorporated in Hong Kong.
7. There are twenty-six Chinese banks and seven representative offices operating in Hong Kong.
8. Free trade is the vision of Hong Kong. HK is one of the most open, externally orientated economies in the World.
9. The Heritage Foundation has consistently rated it as the freest economy in the World.

Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong

1. The official languages of Hong Kong are English and Cantonese
2. Area: 1,108 square kilometres
3. Hongkongese population: 7.1 millions of people
4. Independence from the United Kingdom in 1997
5. Currency: Hong Kong Dollar
6. The main religions in Hong Kong: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism
7. Hongkongese GDP (nominal): 215,354 billion dollars
   1. Agriculture: 0.1%
      Industry: 9%
      Services: 90.9%
8. GDP (PPP): 350 billion dollars
9. The inflation: 2%
10. The main export destinations are China, the US, and Japan

The Greater Pearl River Delta region, which consists of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region, and the Pearl River Delta Economic development Zone part of Guangdong Province, has emerged as one of the most dynamic economic regions in the World.

The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), which took effect in the beginning of 2004, provides Hong Kong with additional and exclusive Mainland international market access benefits. Thousands of international companies implicated in international trade with the People's Republic of China have chosen to set up their headquarters in Hong Kong.

Every investor has a broad range of business vehicles to choose from when Doing Business in Hong Kong. All companies are subject to the same rules. Requisites for establishing a business in Hong Kong are famous for being simple and straight forward. You can set up a new company in six days, and it will cost you only a few hundred dollars.

The type of structure that is most appropriate will depend on tax issues, strategic plans, financial aspects, willingness to take on ongoing obligations and much more. Because of the complex and long-term impact of this decision; it is advisable to seek professional advice.

Most common forms of business for foreign investors are:

- Private limited companies
- Branch offices of foreign companies
- Rep offices
- Partnerships/sole proprietorships
- Joint Ventures.

Hong Kong's Institutions and Trade Agreements:

1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
2. The agreement New Zealand-Hong Kong
3. Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
4. New Zealand-Hong Kong-China Closer Economic Partnership
5. Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PEEC)
6. Asian Development Bank
7. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Agreement New Zealand Hong Kong