Joop Litmaath is putting his passion for Hong Kong into a book, to be published next year

After 40 years in Hong Kong and various strategic repositionings of his business, Joop B.M. Litmaath, known as the "flying Dutchman", has more energy than ever. Managing director of his own trading company Scarfell Enterprises Limited, this tireless entrepreneur is also a talented jazz pianist, a sportsman who in 1998 - at age 64 - won a tennis pro-am partnered with Guillermo Vilas, is a member of various business committees, and an enthusiastic ambassador for Hong Kong. Mr Litmaath tells how life here still gives him a kick - and why he is writing a book about it.

"I arrived in Hong Kong in 1963, having been sent by a Dutch company, Hagemeyer, to run a rattan processing plant at Fanling in the New Territories. I immediately felt at home.  Hong Kong's beautiful harbour flanked on both sides by skyscrapers and my first-ever trip on the Star Ferry were everlasting impressions.

After five years, I had been promoted to export manager of Hagemeyer Far East Limited, and joined the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. I also had joined the Hong Kong Exporters' Association, of which I was to become chairman in 1974.

But in the same year, head office wanted to transfer me. By then I had succumbed to the charms of Hong Kong and was determined to stay. I established the trading company Scarfell Enterprises Ltd with two friends, a Dutchman and a Frenchman who were also business associates. The prime business was timber imports, followed by exports of flashlights through my Dutch partner to Holland and audio cassettes through the French partner to France.

All the reasons that I found Hong Kong an easy place to set up business still hold true today. It's low and simple tax regime, excellent infrastructure, rule of law, well educated labour force and the fact that Hong Kong is such a safe city make it not only an ideal place for an SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) like mine to start up, but also a great place to bring up a family.

In the following years business grew and I was elected chairman of the chamber's Europe Committee, leading several overseas trade and goodwill missions to Europe and the Middle East. Later, I also became a member of the chamber's international speakers group, who hold speaking engagements during their overseas travels.

Asia's world city

I am always happy to sing the praises of Hong Kong because I truly believe it has so much to offer. Hong Kong is one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. It is a city where, you name it, we've got it. My message is always that Hong Kong is Asia's world city.

Hong Kong is one of the three safest large cities in the world. We have first class public transport, the best airport in the world, and a still beautiful harbour with 235 outlying islands. We have top quality and affordable medical facilities, a high standard of English Schools Foundation and international schools, and a very industrious local population who are dedicated and loyal. Best of all for me, Hong Kong has no retirement age.

By the early 1980s, Scarfell took a small stake in a local factory manufacturing audio cassettes and became a sub-contractor for Philips. After a terrific 10-year deal with them, the cassette business disappeared so my French partner found another line in photo albums and picture frames. The company signed an exclusive arrangement with the then biggest manufacturer of photo albums in the world, Climax, and became its exclusive agent for France. In 1995, when that line of business declined, we moved onto our current niche market - pet products. Our primary manufacturing base is our factory in the Pearl River Delta, which is convenient to our Hong Kong headquarters, from where we can export to the world.

By being flexible, you can succeed in Hong Kong. In the current economic climate, you can also shop around for good business deals - for example, when my company moved into this building 10 years ago, we were paying HK$32 (US$4) per square foot per month in rent. Today we pay $10 (US$1.28).

Once, I thought I would retire at 65. When that day arrived I saw no reason to. Instead, I decided to write a book in my spare time about my first 40 years in Hong Kong. It is called Far East of Amsterdam and will be published next April.

I am committed to Hong Kong. I am blessed with my health, and most of my family are here. Why on earth would I want to leave?"

Related links:
Scarfell www.scarfell.com.hk
Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce www.chamber.org.hk
Hong Kong Exporters Association www.exporters.org.hk
English Schools Foundation www.esf.edu.hk
Hagemeyer www.hagemeyer.com
Philips www.philips.com