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British-born Hong Kong Investment Head Becomes Chinese National
The British-born head of Hong Kong's government-run investment agency has taken Chinese nationality.
Mike Rowse, head of Invest Hong Kong, 52, said he gave up his British nationality because of his strong attachment to the territory, not for career advancement.
"Clearly Hong Kong is my home," he told Thursday's South China Morning Post. "Something inside of me wants to carry a Hong Kong passport, to sell Hong Kong as a full Hong Kong citizen."
"I have to be realistic. I don't write, read and speak Chinese. I have only a low level of Cantonese. I can see this would be a problem in some posts and in some meetings," Rowse said.
However he said he was not expecting any career advancement as a result.
Rowse joined the then British-run Hong Kong government in 1972. He became head of the new investment promotion unit in May last year after holding the post of commissioner for tourism.
Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997 but enjoys broad autonomy under its status as a Special Administrative Region.
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