M'sian Firms Urged To Use Hong Kong As Springboard Into China - Consul-General

From Zainal Abdul Jalil HONG KONG, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysian companies are urged to use Hong Kong as the springboard for exports into China rather than exporting their products directly to the Chinese market, said Malaysian Consul-General to Hong Kong, Tengku Sirajuzzaman Mohd Ariffin. He said the move was to avoid the stringent requirements implemented by the Chinese government. "Malaysian companies especially Bumiputera companies must be bold to invest in Hong Kong to facilitate their dealings with local companies from mainland China. "I propose this method as the Chinese government gives the opportunity to Hong Kong to discuss with parties that are interested to do business particularly exporting their products to China," Tengku Sirajuzzaman told Bernama here Tuesday. He was met when welcoming the arrival of the Crown Prince of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail who made a stopover here on his way back to Malaysia. Syed Faizuddin, as the Commander of the Regiment 504 of the Territorial Army based in Bukit Keteri Camp in Perlis, headed the Reserve Officers Training Unit (PALAPES) of seven public institutions of higher learning that made a working visit to army camps and universities in Beijing from Nov 14-17. The universities are Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknoloji Mara, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Universiti Malaysia Perlis and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Tengku Sirajuzzaman said Malaysian entrepreneurs should grab these opportunities as Malaysian financial institutions such as Maybank, Public Bank and CIMB had established their foothold in Hong Kong. "These banking institutions can facilitate transactions and payments, besides the ability of the Hong Kong community to communicate in English which makes communication easier compared with China. "Eventhough the operation cost in Hong Kong is very high, it is worthwhile when the targeted products successfully enter the Chinese market...May be these entrepreneurs cannot cope with the demand," he said. Tengku Sirajuzzaman said halal products and local fruits such as durian which received high demand in China would be easier to export via Hong Kong. He said with a population of 30 million in Shenzhen, the closest city to Hong Kong, with Hong Kong itself having a population of seven million, the demand for such products would be high. "Malaysian Bumiputera entrepreneurs must be brave to enter the Chinese market. The government through Matrade (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) and the Consul-General Office is always ready to assist so that the Malaysian entrepreneurs participate in product exhibition that are organised in Hong Kong. "In the exhibition, the entrepreneurs can have direct discussions with companies in China or Hong Kong," he said, adding the education cost in Hong Kong which has no ceiling was a challenging sector to explore. Tengku Sirajuzzaman also said the Malaysian government's policy of sending students to study Mandarin in China would help increase bilateral trade in the future. -- BERNAMA