The shockwaves of the tragedy in New York and Washington DC on September 11 continue to ripple around the global trading community of which Hong Kong is a key member as the world's ninth largest trader. The Immigration Department has reported 13 Hong Kong residents still unaccounted for in the wake of the terrorist attacks.
Hong Kong has huge economic ties to the United States. The US is Hong Kong's second largest trading partner after the Chinese mainland, with over US$61 billion in total trade in 2000.
"For my part, and I believe that I speak for all the people of Hong Kong, I am deeply saddened and aggrieved at such a terrible loss of life. We express our profound sympathy for the American people. Terrorist attacks of any such kind are abhorrent to human decency," said Chief Secretary Donald Tsang.
Almost 40,000 US citizens are resident in Hong Kong. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham) is the largest American Chamber outside the US and is the largest international chamber in Hong Kong. Chairman Paula DeLisle announced that AmCham would establish a special fund to provide assistance to those in greatest need after the tragedy. The HSBC Group has pledged HK$15.6 million (US$2 million) to help victims of the US tragedy
Business has already been adversely affected after last week's atrocities. Further Hong Kong analysis of the business impact can be accessed through a webcast interview with TDC's Chief Economist Edward Leung.
[Click to view webcast interview]
