Belgian HK partners team up (hktdc.com)


	Alexander De Beir of ADM Financial Casting meets Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang

Hong Kong's reliable legal system and rule of law attracted Belgian lawyer Alexander De Beir to set up an office in Hong Kong in December 2006. As with most overseas companies, he teamed up with a Hong Kong partner to tap opportunities in the Chinese mainland.

ADM Financial Casting offers legal, financial and corporate services to clients who want to set up activities in Hong Kong and/or invest in China. Alternatively, Chinese companies contact ADM when investing in Europe. It is a typical small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) with a staff of four: a Hong Kong partner, two legal staff and an accountant.

Mr De Beir did a Masters of Law (LLM) at the University of Hong Kong 10 years ago and has kept in touch with some of his former classmates. When he wanted to open an office in the city, "my Hong Kong partner was naturally one of those former classmates," he said.

"I needed a Hong Kong partner because I cannot be in Hong Kong all the time. I come to the city every three months for a week. My partner is essential for the local work and administration, marketing and presentations.

Springboard to Greater China

"Hong Kong is the springboard into China and the rest of Asia. It is politically stable, has strong legal and financial services, a good transportation infrastructure, widespread usage of the English language and for Belgian entrepreneurs, it is very interesting because of a unique double tax treaty," he explained. This tax treaty exempts all dividends coming from a Hong Kong company to Belgium of being subject to Belgian tax.

Mr De Beir also believes that Hong Kong is the financial centre of Asia. "Shanghai is an important financial centre in China but it will never have the international influence of Hong Kong. So, Hong Kong is essential to ADM Financial Casting as our Asian headquarters."

The company has an office in Beijing as there is a direct flight from Brussels. "It is useful being close to the power of the PRC Central Government," he added.

Hong Kong Forum

Mr De Beir was in the city recently for the Hong Kong Forum – an annual gathering of 31 Hong Kong business organisations in 23 countries organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. He said the forum was a great networking opportunity, putting him in touch with people in many industry sectors and also gave him the latest updates on the political and economic scenes in Hong Kong and China.

Besides Hong Kong and Beijing, ADM Financial Casting has its headquarters in Brussels and Kortrijk (a Belgian city in the province of West-Flanders).