Some 300 guests, government officials and community leaders gathered at a reception hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office to welcome the Year of Snake in San Francisco on Feb 6. From left to right: Jeff Leung,former director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco; SF Consul General Gao Zhansheng; Ms Subrina Chow, the new director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco. [Chen Jia/China Daily]

Some 300 guests, government officials and community leaders gathered at a reception hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco, on Feb 6 night to celebrate the Year of the Snake which starts on Feb 11.

Hong Kong Chief Executive, CY Leung sent his well wishes via a video message on the reception. He said that Chinese New Year is a wonderful time of year in Hong Kong. "It is also a time to reflect on our achievements in the past year and look ahead to a bright future. The past 12 months has been a very busy time in the Hong Kong political calendar. We ushered in a new Government and then a new Legislative Council."

"In my first Policy Address in January, I highlighted ways that we will enhance Hong Kong's status as a premier gateway to the mainland of China for Hong Kong companies and for overseas firms based in Hong Kong," he said.

Donald Tong, Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, said ties between Hong Kong and the United States continued to solidify. The US remains the single largest source of overseas companies in Hong Kong with around 1,400 firms.

Tong said Hong Kong is the 10th-largest export destination for American exports. "US goods exports to Hong Kong amounted to over $33 billion in the first 11 months in 2012."

"Apart from serving as an important gateway to help overseas companies enter the Mainland of China, Hong Kong serves as a conduit to help Mainland companies to go global in reaching other markets, including the US," said Tong.

Echoing his comments, Jeff Leung, director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco, said that many companies in California have also expanded in Hong Kong. "California and Hong Kong continue to have strong economic ties. Hong Kong is the 6th-biggest destination of California. For the first nine months of 2012, more than $5.7 billion of merchandise was been exported from California to Hong Kong.

The New Year reception was also an occasion to farewell Jeff Leung and welcome the new director Subrina Chow who was the deputy director of the office from 1998 to 2001. She will assume duty on February 7, 2013.

Contact the writer at chenjia@chinadailyusa.com