Last updated in October 2009
General relations
Since Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, it has no intergovernmental foreign political relations with Germany. However, Hong Kong’s autonomous status under international and constitutional law, its major economic role in China and as a hub for the circulation of goods, services and capital in the region, its large foreign currency reserves and its prominent position at the interface between the two systems have given it a special significance all of its own. This is also reflected in the many contacts that leading representatives of the Hong Kong government now have with partners abroad. It is seeking to diversify its foreign relations, previously geared to the Anglo-American bloc, and lay claim to the city’s status as an international metropolis. Here too, Germany is esteemed as a favoured dialogue partner. Since the spring of 2009, Hong Kong has had its own representation in Berlin.
Intensive economic relations with Germany
There are several hundred German companies and company agencies in Hong Kong. Most German companies have a regional office there. In the future, too, Hong Kong will remain an important gateway to the Chinese market for German firms. Hong Kong is used as a base for doing business not only with mainland China but also with Japan, Korea, South-East Asia, India and Australia. Most of the 2,000-3,000 Germans living in Hong Kong are business people.
Institutionally, German business can rely on the support of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce, the German Chamber Network (AHK), a correspondent of Germany Trade and Invest (GTaI), an office of the German National Tourist Board (DZT), several trade fair associations and the German Consulate-General.
In 2008, Germany remained Hong Kong’s most important trading partner within the EU, ahead of the United Kingdom. Trade is conducted for the most part via re-exports to and from mainland China. German products, including luxury goods for the Hong Kong market (e.g. cars), are held in high regard. According to Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department figures, in 2008 re-exports to Germany grew by nearly 18 per cent compared with 2007. They comprised mainly electronic goods, all types of machinery, textiles and garments, toys and jewellery.
In 2008, Germany officially participated in eight international trade fairs, mainly in the consumer goods sector. In addition, numerous German companies independently took part in trade fairs in Hong Kong.
Business delegations from Germany, some of them headed by high-ranking representatives, regularly visit Hong Kong to explore business opportunities and develop new contacts.
In 2008, German visitors to Hong Kong (tourists and business people) numbered nearly 225,000.
Germany is regarded as a competent partner, especially in the environmental sector, and German expertise is increasingly in demand. The application of innovative environmental technologies focuses on fighting air pollution and eliminating shortcomings in solid waste and wastewater disposal (construction of waste recycling facilities). This could open up business opportunities for German companies.
Cultural relations
The German courses organized by the Goethe Institute are in great demand, with some 4,000 enrolments per year at present. The Goethe Institute constantly seeks to relate its varied multimedia programme work to Hong Kong and the region. In a city with one of the world’s highest population densities, multimedia events play a key role. In cooperation with Hong Kong’s evolving cultural scene, contemporary and avant-garde cultural topics are an essential ingredient in efforts to provide a differentiated picture of Germany. As a sophisticated conurbation, Hong Kong offers a wide range of opportunities here.
Another integral part of Germany’s cultural programme is the independently organized German-language Film Week, which has been held since 2007 and since 2008 has been called “Kino [+ the respective year]”, this year’s event thus being called “Kino 2009” (Cinema 2009), and Germany’s participation in the annual EU Film Festival.
The prestigious German Swiss International School, founded in 1969, has some 1,300 pupils divided into a German, an international and a vocational section (based on Germany’s dual vocational training system).
In higher education, there are numerous partnerships with German universities. At the European Higher Education Fair (EHEF), a Franco-German-based initiative that is held once a year by several EU countries, there is evidence of growing interest in studying in Germany. At the Baptist University, there is an Information and Advice Centre (IBZ) funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and run by the DAAD’s academic teacher working there. The German Center at the University of Science and Technology seeks to bring together the host of existing and intensifying contacts under one roof. Under the Baptist University’s Franco-German European Studies Programme, students of the German section spend a year in Germany studying at a university and completing a work experience placement. Since September 2003, it has been possible to major in German at the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Arts, graduating with a BA in German.
The German Alumni Association Hong Kong (GAAHK) was founded in April 2002. With a current membership of around 190, the organization seeks to cultivate contacts among former scholarship holders and other students. In 2004, a Humboldt Chapter was set up with the aim of intensifying contacts among former Alexander von Humboldt fellows, including graduates from mainland China. In foreign-language teaching, English – and increasingly Standard Chinese (Mandarin) – have traditionally led the field, ahead of French and Japanese; German follows in fifth place. The Goethe Institute has some 4,000 annual enrolments for German classes. The Goethe Institute’s German courses are self-financing. German is also taught at Hong Kong’s universities (approximately 1,000 students each year).
