Hong Kong matters.
It is the eleventh biggest trading entity in the world; it is one of the world's busiest container ports; it has the second largest stock market in Asia and it enjoyed economic growth of over 6% of GDP in 2006. The UK exported almost £3 billion worth of goods to Hong Kong in 2006 and earned a further £1.3 billion from services. Over 1000 UK businesses have a presence here.
Its open business environment is unparalleled in Asia.
With its well established Rule of Law, protection of intellectual property, well regulated banking system, free flow of people, ideas and information and accountable government, Hong Kong is the preferred regional location for the world's leading companies.
Hong Kong also matters to China. One third of China's trade passes through Hong Kong and Hong Kong is the biggest investor in every province of China. Over 70,000 Hong Kong companies employ some 11 million people in neighbouring Guangdong Province alone.
