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Chamber Economists
Working in High Gear

Submissions for the Policy Address and Budget speech, CEPA Report, Business Prospects Survey, regular economic analysis, articles and speeches are just a few examples of how the Chamber's two economists provide added value to HKGCC members, writes EDEN WOON

Many of our members know that the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce is the only business association in Hong Kong which has a professional Chief Economist serving members.   And our Chief Economist, David O'Rear, also has an able Assistant Economist, Ruby Zhu, who specialises in the Chinese economy. You have seen their work in this magazine monthly and in periodic writings, and in the "China Ruby News" which comes out once a month.  And they are frequently sought after by members and by press for their expert opinions.

This final quarter, the two of them are working in extra high gear. First of all, our Chief Economist is busy helping the General Committee -- using input from our specialised committees -- prepare a submission for the Policy Address and for the Budget speech.  As you can imagine, issues such as confidence of the community, the deficit, civil service reform, broadening the tax base, and Mainland economic integration are all issues which feature prominently in these submissions. He has also been analysing members' input for our annual Business Prospects Survey (see page 28) that takes the pulse of our members' sentiment on the economy.   And finally, David will be making our annual economic forecast at our 10th Annual Business Summit on December 10, when he will give us his prediction on what Hong Kong's growth picture will look like in 2004.

As for Ruby Zhu, she has been helping the Chamber's Senior Director for Business Policy, W K Chan, and Director for International Business, Eva Chow, to put together our CEPA Report.   The 140-page English version sold over 700 copies in the first month that it was released, and the Chinese version, which became available on December 1, is selling briskly also.  This report has been widely praised as the definitive explanatory work on CEPA and has been very useful in helping members figure out how to use CEPA.  Ruby Zhu has helped collate much of the input from our members into this report, and she has also been busy preparing Chamber speeches on CEPA that have been in hot demand by organisations all over Hong Kong and in China.  In addition, she has been very busy fielding inquiries about CEPA from members.

So as you contemplate whether to renew your membership in HKGCC, please think of these two economists and how they add value to your membership.  They are here to help you, and if your company does not have an economist, then you can consider them to be your economist.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a happy holiday season, and a prosperous New Year!

Eden Woon
CEO
HKGCC