ASEAN Countries and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Some Important Facts HONG KONG AND ASEAN COUNTRIES ARE IMPORTANT TRADING PARTNERS Hong Kong is an important partner of ASEAN countries (Note1). With respect to individual ASEAN members, Hong Kong was the 5th largest trading partner of Singapore in 2002, the 6th largest trading partner of Cambodia (2001), the Philippines (2002) and Malaysia (2002), the 8th largest trading partner of Thailand (2001), the 10th largest trading partner of Brunei Darussalam (2001), the 11th largest trading partner of Vietnam (2001), the 12th largest trading partner of Laos (2001) and the 13th largest trading partner of Myanmar (2001) and Indonesia (2002). Reciprocally, 5 of the ASEAN countries (i.e. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia) were amongst the top 20 trading partners of Hong Kong in 2002. Taken as a group, ASEAN was the 3rd largest trading partner of Hong Kong during the period, after the Mainland of China and the United States. HONG KONG IS AN IMPORTANT MARKET FOR GOODS FROM ASEAN COUNTRIES In 2002, Hong Kong imported HK$180.1 billion (US$23.1 billion) worth of goods from ASEAN countries, accounting for 11.1% of Hong Kong's total imports. ASEAN COUNTRIES AS A MARKET FOR HONG KONG GOODS Taken as a group, ASEAN was Hong Kong's 3rd largest market in 2002. Hong Kong's domestic exports to ASEAN countries were valued at HK$9.2 billion (US$1.2 billion) in 2002, accounting for 7.0% of Hong Kong's total domestic exports to the world. As a major market for Hong Kong's domestic exports, ASEAN countries are fast growing in importance and display considerable potential. HONG KONG IS AN IMPORTANT ENTREPÔT SERVING ASEAN COUNTRIES Hong Kong is an important regional entrepôt, and in particular a gateway between the Mainland of China and ASEAN countries. In 2002, re-exports through Hong Kong to ASEAN countries amounted to HK$88.9 billion (US$11.4 billion), of which 71.4% or HK$63.5 billion (US$8.1 billion) were originated in the Mainland. At the same time, Hong Kong re-exported HK$81.6 billion (US$10.5 billion) worth of ASEAN products, of which 72.2% or HK$58.9 billion (US$7.6 billion) were destined to the Mainland. IMPORTANT ECONOMIC LINKS BETWEEN ASEAN COUNTRIES AND HONG KONG In 2002, Hong Kong received 1.6 million visitors from ASEAN countries, accounting for 9.6% of Hong Kong's total visitor arrival. Reciprocally, over 1.4 million Hong Kong residents visited the ASEAN region in the same year. As at May 2003, all ASEAN countries except Laos and Myanmar have airlines providing scheduled air services to and from Hong Kong. They derive considerable benefits from their air traffic rights. In exchange, Hong Kong-based airlines also operate regular services to ASEAN countries (except Laos and Myanmar). Note 1: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.