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New Zealand has a strong and constructive relationship with Hong Kong. It has for a long time been an important trade and economic partner of New Zealand. Like us, it has also been a strong proponent for open markets and supporter of the multilateral trading system. It was one of those with whom we, at an early point, initiated negotiations toward a Closer Economic Partnership agreement, hoping to achieve a model instrument to serve as a benchmark for others.
On the political side, we also share a common commitment to the rule of law, the preservation of individual rights and the independence of the courts. That shared commitment is based on common legal traditions through the common law, and is reflected in the presence of a number of New Zealanders practicing law at high levels and through a number of senior New Zealand judges at times serving on Hong Kong’s highest Court of Final Appeal.
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Hong Kong continues to be an important trading partner (11th largest market for our exports in the 12 months to March 2009) and source of investment, with part of its strength being as an entry point and platform into China. The siting of the NZ Focus Centre, the first New Zealand-branded retail and information centre, in Hong Kong reflects this.
New Zealand’s major exports to Hong Kong include food and beverages, some hides, paper and wood products, and race horses. It is also an important, albeit fairly mature, source market for high-end tourists and students (secondary and tertiary).
More specifically, in regards to trade and economic links, New Zealand focuses on:
New Zealand experiences few trade access difficulties with Hong Kong, reflecting the openness of its economy, the efficiency and expertise of its public sector, and also the absence of any vested interests in the agriculture area.
New Zealand commenced a 'Closer Economic Partnership' (CEP) negotiation with Hong Kong in 2001 which was suspended after five rounds of negotiation in late 2002. New Zealand and Hong Kong announced their intention to resume negotiations on 10 February 2009. The first round of resumed negotiations was held in Wellington from 5-8 May, and the second will be held in Hong Kong from 6-10 July.
Air New Zealand has direct daily flights from Auckland to Hong Kong and, since October 2006, on to London. Cathay Pacific also operates direct flights between Hong Kong and Auckland.
An air services agreement between Hong Kong SAR and New Zealand was signed in 1991.
Education continues to be an important element in the relationship. Hong Kong remains a valuable market for attracting international students to New Zealand at the secondary as well as the tertiary level. The number of Hong Kong students studying in New Zealand has remained steady in the last few years at around 1300.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise have also worked with the Immigration New Zealand and some other private sector partners to develop a Student Ambassador Scheme. Secondary level students are chosen to travel to New Zealand to spend time both travelling around New Zealand and attending an educational institution where they participate in a tailor-made learning programme.
A number of New Zealand universities are beginning to develop links with counterpart institutions in Hong Kong. Such links promote New Zealand education as a quality product and represent an opportunity for building research and constituent links with Hong Kong counterparts.
Hong Kong SAR is not a significant immigration source for New Zealand; it was our 21st largest source of all long-term arrivals in the 12 months to April 2009.
A bi-lateral visa waiver agreement has been concluded between New Zealand and Hong Kong and, as such, Hong Kong residents travelling to New Zealand do not require a visa – nor do New Zealanders travelling to Hong Kong.
New Zealand and Hong Kong have also established a working holiday scheme whereby, subject to certain conditions, up to 200 people up to the age of 30 can visit and work in each country for up to one year.
Hong Kong provides a steady and reliable stream of visitors to New Zealand with potential for further growth. Total arrivals into New Zealand from Hong Kong were 21,840 for the 12 months to April 2009, making Hong Kong New Zealand’s 14th largest source of overseas visitors.
For many years New Zealanders have gone to Hong Kong to work in a wide variety of professions including as teachers, lawyers, accountants, bankers and journalists. As such the New Zealand ex-pat community continues to thrive. The bilateral relationship is strengthened substantially by these people to people linkages.
The New Zealand Society in Hong Kong celebrated its 50th anniversary in Hong Kong in 2007. It provides a network for New Zealanders in Hong Kong to keep in touch through a diverse range of mainly social activities.
Business linkages between Hong Kong and New Zealand also remain strong with the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong playing an important role in fostering and developing these linkages.
Official Name - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China - Land Area - 1,042 sq km - Population - 7.01 million at end-2008 (up 0.8% yoy - Religion - Mainly Buddhist and Christian - Language - Chinese and English are the official languages, although the Cantonese dialect is most widely spoken, followed by English and Mandarin - Currency - Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
Political system - Executive-led government - National government - Chief Executive (CE) with an Executive Council (ExCo) appointed by the CE - National legislature - Legislative Council (LEGCO) (60 seats; in 2008 election, 30 seats were indirectly elected by functional constituencies, and 30 were elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) - Last election - For Chief Executive: current Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was re-elected on 25 March 2007 in the first fully contested Chief Executive Election in Hong Kong’s history. His term will run from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2012; For LegCo: 7 September 2008 - Next election due - For Chief Executive: before June 2012; For LegCo: 2012 - Head of State - President Mr HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) - Head of Government - Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Chief Executive (since 24 June 2005)
GDP - US$209.8 billion (for year ended December 2008) - GDP breakdown - Services: 92.3 %; Construction: 2.6%; Manufacturing: 2.5%; Electricity, gas and water: 2.5%; Agriculture and fishing: 0.1% - GDP per capita - US$ 29,800 (for year ended December 2008); US$30,100 (official forecast for 2009) - Real GDP growth - +2.5% (for year ended December 2008); -7.8% (for the first quarter of 2009) - Exports - -21.9% for first quarter 2009 - Imports - -22.8% for first quarter 2009 - Inflation +1.7% for first quarter 2009 - Gross external debt - US$588 billion (284% of GDP, as of December 2007) - Budget balance – Deficit of US $40 billion (2% GDP) for 2009/10 (forecast).
NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$764 million (up 27.7%, for year ended March 2009, 11th largest export market) - Main Exports – Crustaceans, live horses, sheep meat, frozen beef, leather of bovine - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$202.7 million (down 3.1% yoy, for year ended December 2008) - Main Imports - Telephone equipment, machinery parts, computers, books, and microphones and their stands - Services Trade - Total No. of Overseas Visitor Arrivals in New Zealand from Hong Kong: 21,840 (annual value, for the 12 months to April 2009), 14th largest source of overseas visitors.
There has been a pattern of reasonably regular high level exchanges at Ministerial level:
New Zealand has had resident representation in Hong Kong since 1960. The Consulate General and other New Zealand agencies currently have a New Zealand-based staff of six and a total staff of around 30, carrying out the business in Hong Kong of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Immigration Service, Investment New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Also located in Hong Kong is an office of Tourism New Zealand.
The Consul-General also continues to be accredited to Macau since it became a SAR at the end of 1999.
The functions of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney, established in 1995, include non-resident promotion of Hong Kong interests in New Zealand.
The Safe Travel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Hong Kong [external link].
