US Diplomat Hopes Closer Ties with HKUS Consul General in Hong Kong Michael Klosson Tuesday stressed the importance of strengthening the cooperation between the United States and Hong Kong by promotion of a more open international trading system.Klosson told a gathering here celebrating the 225th birthday of the United State of America that it is a nice coincide that both the United State and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) celebrate important anniversaries this week. "We both share important values like respect for human rights and the rule of law, as well as common interests and goals," Klosson said. "We are working together to promote a more open international trading system, to improve the environment, to combat transnational crime, and to exchange scholars and students. " The United States hopes to strengthen that cooperation, and as time goes on, to advance a similarly constructive relationship with all of China, he added. The relationship between the United States and Hong Kong goes back over 150 years, Klosson said, adding that in those early days, Americans saw clearly and with uncanny foresight the tremendous business potential of Hong Kong. Today telecommunications and information technology are growth sectors for American investment in Hong Kong as it seeks to establish itself as Asia's premier telecommunications hub, Klosson stressed. The original, fledging American presence in Hong Kong has grown today to approximately 1,100 American companies and about 50,000 U. S. citizens, who are fortunate enough to reside in this beautiful city, he said. Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and representative of the Macao SAR government attended the party. |
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