US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau Secretary Rita Lau signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to facilitate sales of US wines in the booming Hong Kong market through promotion of wines and wine-related tourism, wine appreciation, investment in infrastructure and customs cooperation against counterfeits and smuggling.
2009 global imports of wine into the Hong Kong market increased 44% by value to $491 million and 20% by volume to 32.4 million liters over 2008, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).  US gross exports grew to a record $40 million, …

Hong Kong is a small island dependent on imported food and beverages.  The Hong Kongese have the cultural backgrounds and languages of both the Chinese and the British, are sophisticated, well-educated, prosperous and open to experimentation.  In a global market that is in net over-supply, the Hong Kongese have particular demands that make them ideal consumers in today’s global wine market.
 The Hong Konger loves red wine and the major producing countries make a lot of it.  75-80% of wine consumed is red.  While the health benefits of red wine are well-known, the ethnic …

It is warm and slightly muggy tonight in Hong Kong.  One of the great international cities, Hong Kong throbs with the energy of seven million residents and four times that many tourists, in a space of just 1,100 square kilometers.  If you love New York, you will love Hong Kong.  It has a great international airport with a dedicated airport express train that makes just three stops in the right places and once you’re here, the MTR subway, taxis and buses are non-stop and cheap.  It is tax-free zone.  The shopping …