Hong Kong Proceeds

William Conolly	Hon McKeeva Bush

by Alan Markoff

Thursday, August 12, 2004

Although leased since last April and already fitted out, the Hong Kong office of the Cayman Islands Investment Bureau is sitting empty waiting for someone from the Cayman Islands to run it.

However, the Leader of Government Business and the Minister of Tourism, Environment, Development and Commerce, Hon McKeeva Bush said that several candidates have been identified to possibly run the office, and that it should open in mid-September.

Mr Bush said that a lease had already been signed for a cost of about US$4,000 per month for an approximately 1,400-square-foot office overlooking Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong’s Lippo Centre. “The rent is very reasonable for there,” he said.

Even though the opening will occur during the busy election campaign season, Mr Bush said he would probably travel to Hong Kong in September. “I’m expected to be there for the opening,”

One of the Caymanian candidates under consideration for the post of manning the new Investment Bureau office is William Conolly, the former General Manger of the Grand Caymanian, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Hyatt Regency, Grand Cayman.

“I think it would be a great opportunity,” said Mr Conolly, “I would be honoured to represent my country and be an ambassador overseas for the Cayman Islands government, and I look forward to doing so if the opportunity is availed to me.”

Mr Bush indicated that it had been recommended that a skilled person from Hong Kong also man the office for a period of six months to one year after it opens. “That would help get it started,” he said.

Eventually, the office could be used to also help promote tourism, according to Mr Bush, who added that promoting financial trade for the Cayman Islands would be its primary function.

Besides the new Hong Kong offices, the Cayman Islands Investment Bureau also has offices here, in New York and London.

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