Hong Kong-USA: Partners in Trade and Beyond

Margaret Fong will discuss the extent of collaboration between the United States and Hong Kong.

Time: 7:00Pm 

Margaret Fong - Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA

USA and Hong Kong has been close partners for decades. What is less
well-known is that the collaboration extends far beyond the trade arena to
issues of global concern including international terrorism, public health
and the environment. Hong Kong is not only the US's ideal gateway to
Mainland China and Asia but also the US's partner in making the world a
safer place for all. Our shared core values made Hong Kong Americans'
"home away from home".

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Margaret Fong was born and educated in Hong Kong. Upon graduation, she joined the Hong Kong civil service as an Administrative Officer. She served as the Assistant Private Secretary to the former Governor, Lord David Wilson, before joining the Finance Branch to look after the funding of Hong Kong Government’s public works programme.

From 1993 to 1997, she served in the Constitutional Affairs Branch and was heavily involved in a full range of transition-related issues, including the setting up of the office of the Chief Executive (Designate).

Miss Fong served as Deputy Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington, D.C. from 1997 to 1999 in charge of export control, intellectual property rights issues and congressional relations. She returned to Hong Kong in late 1999 and joined the Transport Branch as Deputy Secretary.

As Deputy Secretary for Transport, Miss Fong’s portfolio covered a wide range of subjects from road safety and traffic management issues to planning for new road and rail networks both within Hong Kong and linking with the Pearl River Delta.

In August 2004, Miss Fong returned to Washington, D.C. to take up the post of Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office. As Director-General, Miss Fong was responsible for US-Hong Kong bilateral trade relations, relations with the U.S. Federal Administration, U.S. Congress, prominent think-tanks and the U.S. business community.

On July 31, 2006, Miss Fong assumed the post of Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, the most senior representative of Hong Kong in America. As Commissioner, she directs the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s effort in promoting U.S.-Hong Kong economic and trade relationship, and constituency-building activities in the U.S. Miss Fong also oversees the work of the three Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in Washington, New York and San Francisco.

For more information: eastasian.studies@yale.edu