16
-
(a) Hong Kong as a Regional Centre
28.
growing
The
Asia-Pacific
region
contains
the
fastest
in economies
the world. Ours is one of them.
60%
of our total trade is now with Asia and Australasia. And we
play
an
important
in role
building
up trade within the
of`
region. Goods going through Hong Kong from one part of the
region to another, not counting China, have grown by 45% in
the past year.
29.
Our
financial
services
has sector
also
become
in
regional
terms. Because of the
increasingly important
time difference, business can be done here when London and
New York are closed. We now have 135 overseas incorporated
banks in Hong Kong. 11 of these were given new licenses
this year. 12 overseas securities companies and commodities trading companies have also set up business here this year.
30.
Hong Kong has many advantages as a regional base
its location;
an efficient
+
communications; good
and
apolitical administration;
a
well-educated
and
an impartial system of justice;
efficient
workforce;
and all the
conveniences of a modern city. Add to this the magnificent
new
Convention
and Exhibition Centre
the largest in Asia
/- which
02'd ΣΕ
S'I'O TI:LI TT-OT-686T