Korea, HK Enjoying All-Weather Friendship

[faviana]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/n..._p18_korea.jpg

By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter

Hong Kong's Chief Executive and Head of Government, Donald Tsang, has professed sincere esteem for Korea and its culture ahead of his Seoul visit today. His visit is the first in 10 years by a top administrator of Hong Kong.

``Since taking office, I have taken great strides in bringing our countries closer. Korea is a very important partner for Hong Kong. Korea's financial presence in Hong Kong is becoming increasingly visible and the Korean community is also enlarging at a fast pace,'' Tsang recently told Yonhap News Agency prior to his visit. His remarks mirror the strong level of mutual trust and friendship the two countries have enjoyed over the years, leading to blossoming trade and cultural partnerships.

The 64-year-old first came to Korea 32 years ago when he was seconded to the Asia Development Bank from the Hong Kong government, which he entered in 1967. During his two-day visit in Seoul, Tsang will be meeting with President Lee Myung-bak and Foreign Minister Yoo Myung-hwan to discuss issues of mutual interest, with a focus on enhancing regional cooperation to cope with the economic woes sweeping the globe. Also on his agenda is getting to know some of the key political and business leaders in Korea.

``Korean TV is extremely popular and like many Hong Kong people, I enjoy watching it. Additionally, many of my personally belongings, including cell phone and laptop, are Korean products,'' he added. Tsang was last in Korea to take part in the 2005 APEC Summit, held in Busan. ``I went to see the development of Cheongye stream in central Seoul during my last visit here. In refurbishing the site of our old airport, the Kai Tak International, we will use the stream as our reference,'' he said.

Tsang is among the many people from Hong Kong to declare such attachment to Korea. In the early 90s, Hong Kong music and movies were extremely popular in Korea. Likewise, Hong Kong people are finding Korean actors and singer more interesting than ever. Walking down the main streets of Hong Kong, one can easily find Korean entertainers gracing the cover of popular fashion magazines and representing major electronics and cosmetics products in lucrative advertisements.

Tsang's visit coincides with today's visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton. While the United States is an ally of the utmost importance, Hong Kong is also a close friend and indispensable trade partner. Bilateral trade between Korea and Hong Kong grew at an average 8.8 percent between 2003 and 2007, reaching over $22 billion last year, government figures show.

Additionally, cross visits have recorded a sizable increase over the last few years. Last year, a total of 845,000 Koreans visited Hong Kong, posting a 9% increase from the year before, and 160,000 people from Hong Kong visited Korea, 15 percent more than the previous year.

It is perhaps no surprise that two countries sharing as much in common as Hong Kong and Korea find each other so attractive in terms of sightseeing and business. Both countries have experienced colonial rule under imperial powers at the turn of the century and have since risen above many challenges to become major economic players on the global stage. More importantly, both peoples share a drive to excel, which is the key to their respective economic success.

As Korea strives to become a financial hub in the region, it has no better Asian model to take after than Hong Kong, which already enjoys global recognition as Asia's undisputed center of business and finance. ``We welcome competition in challenging our status as Asia's finance center. It was through tight competition with cities like Hamburg and Berlin that London was able to rise as the financial hub of Europe,'' said Tsang.

After earning a masters degree in administration from Harvard University, Tsang embarked on a long and successful career in civil service, serving as the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong in 1995. He is noted for leading his country through economic hardships in the mid-2000s as Chief Executive and as Financial Secretary in the late 1990s.

[nonnawong]

Very interesting...as someone from HK, I didn't even notice that Donald Tsang is 64 years old...lol
He looks like someone whos at the end of his 50s...
Anyway, it is good to know that HK and Korea are having a good relationship...^^