Hong Kong Trade Development Council
{{Short description|Statutory body}}
{{Advert|date=November 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Hong Kong Trade Development Council
|nativename_a = 香港貿易發展局
|logo = Hong Kong Trade Development Council Logo.svg
|formed = {{start date and age|1966|df=yes}}
|headquarters = 38/F, Office Tower, Convention Plaza, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
|chief1_name = Frederick S Ma
|chief1_position = Chairman
|chief2_name = Margaret Fong
|chief2_position = Executive Director
|website = {{URL|https://www.hktdc.com|hktdc.com}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
|t=香港貿易發展局
|y=Hēung góng mauh yihk faat jín gúk
|j=Hoeng1 gong2 mau6 yik6 faat3 zin2 guk2
|altname=HKTDC
|t2=貿發局
|y2=Mauh faat gúk
|j2=Mau6 faat3 guk2
}}
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 for international marketing dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. The organisation has 51 offices around the world, including 13 in the Chinese mainland. With close to 60 years of experience, its mission is to explore opportunities for Hong Kong companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and connect them with business partners around the world.
Governance
{{Economy of Hong Kong}}
The HKTDC is governed by a 19-member Council of Hong Kong business leaders and senior government officials. It plans and supervises the organisation's global operations, services and promotional activities. The council also oversees the operation of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Frederick Ma is the eleventh HKTDC chairman since the council's establishment. He started his term as chairman on 1 June 2025.{{Cite web |title=Professor Frederick S Ma GBS |url=https://portal.hktdc.com/resources/About%20Us/20250528/w8gwpbpc-RU5fRnJlZGVyaWNrIE1hX1Byb2ZpbGU=.pdf |website=About HKTDC}} On 1 October 2014, Margaret Fong succeeded Fred Lam as the executive director of the HKTDC. Ms Fong is responsible for the HKTDC's worldwide operations.{{cite web|url=http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en/pressrelease/detail/11917/HKTDC+Announces+New+Executive+Director|title=HKTDC Announces New Executive Director|website=HKTDC Media Room|access-date=9 April 2018}}
Lobbying
Hong Kong Free Press revealed that HKTDC paid around HKD $84,000,000 from 2014 to 2020 to US lobbying firms, on behalf of the Hong Kong government, in an attempt to convince US politicians to object to the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-19|title=Exclusive: Inside the Hong Kong govt's multi-million dollar US lobbying operation|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/04/19/inside-hong-kong-govts-multi-million-dollar-lobbying-operation-on-capitol-hill/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2021-04-19|title=Exclusive: Hong Kong gov't spent millions on failed lobbying bid to defeat Washington's Human Rights and Democracy Act|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/04/19/exclusive-hong-kong-govt-spent-millions-on-failed-lobbying-bid-to-defeat-us-human-rights-and-democracy-act/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB}}
Trade Fairs
{{further|topic=these fairs|HKTDC Trade Fairs|Category:Trade fairs in Hong Kong}}
The HKTDC also organises more than 40 fairs each year. Nine of these fairs are the biggest of their kind in Asia, while three are the world's largest, namely, the HKTDC Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition).
HKTDC Online Marketplace
HKTDC{{cite web|url=http://www.hktdc.com|title=Hong Kong Suppliers and Hong Kong Manufacturers – HKTDC|website=hktdc.com|access-date=9 April 2018}} operates an online marketplace{{cite web|url=https://sourcing.hktdc.com|title=China Wholesale Suppliers & China Manufacturers – HKTDC|website=hktdc.com|access-date=9 April 2018}} "hktdc.com" of 30 industries connecting more than 2 million global buyers with over 130,000 quality Hong Kong, China and Asia wholesale suppliers and manufacturers. With more than 50 years of experience in buyer-supplier matching, the hktdc.com facilitates worldwide buyers to source products and services from verified, quality suppliers and manufacturers.
Global Presence
The HKTDC is headquartered in Hong Kong. As of 2018, it has around 50 offices which span six continents. In addition to its headquarters its operations comprise 13 offices across mainland China as well locations throughout the Asia Pacific, including Taipei, India, Japan and Australia.
Beyond Asia, offices include: North American locations such as New York City and Toronto, plus Latin America, 11 European cities, and premises in South Africa and the Middle East.
The offices have various functions. They act as "a window for Hong Kong to the outside world", as two-way links between the relevant country or region, provide assistance for companies or individuals interested in doing business with Hong Kong, and as a liaison between the SAR Government and governments of the relevant country. Their work has had a significant effect in enhancing the international profile of Hong Kong.
See also
References
{{Reflist|
refs=
Staff writer (18 October 2008). "[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/10/18/2003426211 Hong Kong trade council to set up office in Taipei]". Taipei Times: p. 3. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
Ren Yue (2007). "Hong Kong in the Eyes of the International Community". In Joseph Y. S. Cheng. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Its First Decade. City University of HK Press. p. 322. {{ISBN|978-962-937-145-6}}.
}}
External links
{{Commons category|Hong Kong Trade Development Council}}
- {{official website|https://www.hktdc.com}}
{{Economy of Hong Kong navbox}}
{{Economy of China}}
{{Government of Hong Kong}}
{{Foreign relations of Hong Kong}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Foreign trade of Hong Kong
Category:Investment in Hong Kong
Category:Statutory bodies in Hong Kong
Category:Government agencies established in 1966