Hong Kong has long been known as a key trade portal linking mainland China with the world, but organizers of an upcoming conference in Atlanta hope to showcase its bridge role in other sectors as well.
The free Oct. 4 seminar – titled, Hong Kong: America’s Bridge to Asian Growth – will rely on high-level business leaders to make that case.
He Guangbei, the chief executive of Bank of China‘s Hong Kong operation, will discuss the city’s role in China’s plan to increase the use of its currency, the yuan or renminbi, in global markets.
Hong Kong has been designated as the Chinese government’s offshore portal for trade settlement in renminbi.
Not only can American firms use bank accounts in Hong Kong to buy and sell in China using yuan, but they can also issue yuan-denominated bonds on Hong Kong markets to raise funds for Chinese operations at a lower interest rate than they could get when borrowing on the mainland.
Henry Yu, an Atlanta-based managing director for Fifth Third Bank who has worked extensively in this arena, will moderate the panel, which will also include Sam Xu, executive director for JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
The technology panel will feature Jack Lau, CEO of Perception Digital Ltd., a Hong Kong-based electronics company.
Richard Rimer, an associate at Atlanta-based Troutman Sanders LLP, which maintains an office in Hong Kong, will provide a perspective on using the city to protect intellectual property while entering the Chinese market.
Michael Bryan, vice president and senior economist in the research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, will give the luncheon address.
For more information or to sign up, click here.
