Hong Kong Commissioner on hand for First Hong Kong Day in Maine 

Augusta, ME: Maine Governor LePage proclaimed May 7 the first Hong Kong Day in Maine in honor of the visit from Donald Tong, Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs for the USA, and Anita Chan, Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York (HKETO). 

Mr. Tong later visited the Senate and House of Representatives and met members of Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the tightening of trade relations between Maine and Hong Kong as well as to stimulate further growth between the two regions. 

 “Our commercial relationship with Maine is notable. Maine’s exports to Hong Kong last year totaled nearly US$27 million, an increase of over 73 percent from 2011,” Tong explained. 

Maine’s exports to Hong Kong have been growing over the past few years especially in the categories of livestock and fish and marine products. Specifically, lobster exports to Hong Kong grew almost 24% in 2012 making it the 5th largest consumer of Maine lobsters. Computer and electronic products export to Hong Kong have also been growing. 

The mission of the HKETO is to strengthen the economic, trade, and cultural ties between the U.S. and Hong Kong and Maine sees great potential for growing trade ties with Hong Kong.  “We treasure very much our diverse ties with Maine, and Hong Kong provides tremendous business opportunities to Maine by way of e.g, CEPA, ” Commissioner Tong spoke to the audience at the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce. 

Earlier in the day, Commissioner Tong and Director Chan met with Senate President Justin L Alfond, Senator Michael D. Thibodeau (who is also Senate Republican Leader), Senator Seth A. Goodall (who is Senate Democratic Majority Leader), Senator Troy Jackson (who is Assistant Majority Leader) and Senator Roger J Katz (who is Assistant Leader). The Commissioner updated them on the developments of in particular economy and finance in Hong Kong. 

They also met with Speaker of the House Mark W. Eves  and Janine Bisaillon-Cary, President of Maine International Trade Center to keep them abreast of the economic developments of Hong Kong during the visit.