Speeches and Articles by Former Consul General Michael Klosson

Remarks by U.S. Consul General Michael Klosson
Annual Gathering of Hong Kong Goodwill Ambassadors hosted by the Hong Kong Tourist Association

March 5, 2001

It's a pleasure to be here with you to celebrate the first annual gathering of Hong Kong Goodwill Ambassadors.

In some ways, the job you haven taken on is not easy: Hong Kong is a small place, and since 1997 a lot of people around the world tend to think of it as "just another city in China."

I know that first-hand. When I visited several American cities last month, I spent much of my time trying to explain the reality of Hong Kong's unique circumstances. Its overall positive situation deserves to be better understood.

But in other ways, your task as Goodwill Ambassadors is not difficult at all: the "product" you have to "sell" is a high-quality one. Hong Kong is a highly attractive city for visitors from around the world.

It combines excellent location, a spectacular skyline, a bustling economy, a phenomenal new airport, great food, efficient services, cultural attractions and an atmosphere of rambunctious freedom. People are free to say what they think, worship as they choose and live their lives as they please. All of those things make it a desirable place both for those who live here as well as for visitors from around the world.

That's why nearly a million visitors from the U.S. came to Hong Kong in 2000, a 12.5% increase from the previous year. And, as far as we can judge, over 200,000 Hong Kongers travelled to the U.S. last year. That two-way flow enriches both sides of the Pacific - culturally, spiritually, and, of course, financially.

We'd like to see those numbers increase even further. The advent of Hong Kong Disneyland in a few years will add yet another world-class jewel to this city's crown.

Disney has a vision for Hong Kong's future - people coming from all around to enjoy this meeting ground of East and West and all that it has to offer. I'm confident that Hong Kong's tourist industries share that vision.

As the Hong Kong Government implements its own vision of Hong Kong as "the world city of Asia," with all that implies for Hong Kong's international character and connections, I hope we'll see the kind of liberalization already unleashed in the field of telecommunications matched in other sectors as well, including air services.

It used to be said that all roads lead to Rome. Well, nowadays it's airports, airlines and air routes that put cities on the map. A more liberal approach will further cement Hong Kong's significant position and ensure that it remains a trans-Pacific gateway between Asia and North America.

Even more tourists are likely to visit Hong Kong if the air services to and from this city are even more plentiful and economical. Obviously, we'd like to see more opportunity for U.S. air carriers to bring people to Hong Kong, and from the rest of Asia through Hong Kong to the U.S. But the bottom line is this: Whether the tourists come here on a blue colored plane, a red colored one, or a green colored one, Hong Kong as a destination stands to benefit. More air services and more competition in air services are good for Hong Kong overall.

Many of my fellow citizens living in America, I believe, would be interested in visiting the City of Life and would contribute to its prosperity in the same way that the American community living in Hong Kong has played an important role in this city's development. Over 50,000 Americans call Hong Kong home; over 1100 American companies do business here. We are Hong Kong's second largest trading partner and Hong Kong is our fifteenth largest trading partner.

Hong Kong thus matters to the United States and further development of its tourism industry can only strengthen the pillars of its uniqueness, vitality and prosperity as an open, international city. That is a good thing, and a worthy mission for Goodwill Ambassadors.