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Hong Kong - Relations with U.S. (Notes)

U.S.-HONG KONG RELATIONS U.S. policy toward Hong Kong, grounded in a determination to promote Hong Kongs prosperity, autonomy, and way of life, is stated in the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992. The United States maintains substantial economic and political interests in Hong Kong. The United States supports Hong Kongs autonomy by concluding and implementing bilateral agreements; promoting trade and investment; arranging high-level visits; broadening law enforcement cooperation; bolstering educational, academic, and cultural links; and supporting the large community of U.S. citizens and visitors. Hong Kong is an active member of the global coalition against terrorism. Hong Kong has joined the Container Security Initiative and remains an important partner with regard to eliminating funding for terrorist networks and combating money laundering. Hong Kong has passed legislation designed to bring Hong Kong into compliance with applicable UN anti-terror resolutions and Financial Action Task Force recommendations. The United States has substantial economic and social ties with Hong Kong. There are some 1,100 U.S. firms, including 889 regional operations (295 regional headquarters and 594 regional offices), and about 54,000 American residents in Hong Kong. According to U.S. Government statistics, U.S. exports to Hong Kong totaled $17.8 billion in 2006. U.S. direct investment in Hong Kong at the end of 2005 totaled about $37.9 billion, making the United States one of Hong Kongs largest investors, along with China, Japan, and the Netherlands. The United States and Hong Kong signed a civil aviation agreement in October 2002, which significantly liberalized the aviation market. Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy as a separate customs territory, with no changes to borders, staffing, or technology export controls since the 1997 handover. Intellectual property rights (IPR) protection has improved substantially in recent years and the introduction of effective new legislation to control illicit production and improved enforcement has now made Hong Kong a regional model for effective IPR protection. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and other U.S. agencies now regularly cite Hong Kong as an example for others. The Hong Kong Government maintains three Economic and Trade Offices in the United States. Addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites for these offices are listed below: 1520 - 18th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 Tel: (202) 331-8947 Fax: (202) 331-8958 Web Site: http://www.hketowashington.gov.hk/dc/index.htm 115 East 54th Street New York, NY 10022 Tel: (212) 752-3320 Fax: (212) 752-3395 Web Site: http://www.hketony.gov.hk/ny/index.htm 130 Montgomery Street San Francisco, CA 94104 Tel: (415) 835-9300 Fax: (415) 421-0646 Web Site: http://www.hketosf.gov.hk/sf/index.htm Principal U.S. Officials Consul General--James B. Cunningham Deputy Principal Officer--Chris Marut The U.S. Consulate General is located at 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2523-9011 (general). Fax: (852) 2845-1598 (general); (852) 2147-5790 (consular); (852) 2845-9800 (commercial).