The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (HKETO San Francisco) rang in the Year of the Dragon along with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) on February 27 (San Francisco time). Nearly 300 local officials, dignitaries, academia, business representatives and community leaders attended the spring reception at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California.
Speaking at the reception, the Director of the HKETO San Francisco, Ms Jacko Tsang, said, "Hong Kong has fully entered a post-pandemic economy. The economy continued to revive in the fourth quarter, with GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growing by an estimated 4.3 per cent. For 2023 as a whole, GDP resumed growth of 3.2 per cent."
She pointed out that Hong Kong's trade relationship with the United States (US) remains robust. In 2023, US goods exports to Hong Kong totalled nearly US$28 billion. The US enjoys one of its highest trade surpluses with Hong Kong, valued at over US$23 billion. Nearly 1 300 American companies operate in the city which is home to approximately 90 000 Americans. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong released in January its business sentiment report which reveals that some 75 per cent of respondents regarded Hong Kong as a competitive global business hub thanks to its international connectivity, free flow of capital, low and simple tax regime and legal and regulatory systems.
At the event, the Director, Americas of the HKTB, Mr Michael Lim, gave a presentation on the latest happenings of Hong Kong's tourism industry. "Over the past year, we welcomed 34 million visitors, of which over 590 000 were Americans," he said. In addition to campaigns such as Night Vibes Hong Kong , an action-packed year-round calendar of signature events and festivals, ranging from arts to sports and pop culture, will bring a more immersive experience to visitors, he added.
The reception concluded on a high note with renowned harmonica ensemble RedBricks from Hong Kong giving a special festive performance. The HKETO San Francisco will host spring receptions in three other cities – Houston, Seattle and Los Angeles between March 1 and 6.
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