According to government sources Sunday, Thompson -- Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Chairman and Founder of Crown Worldwide Holdings Ltd -- received his award recently at a ceremony held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Awards were given for personnel from five regions - the Asia Pacific, Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. The overall winner is President Vicente Fox of Mexico.

fDi, a monthly direct investment publication attached to the Financial Times, developed the "Personality of the Year" Award to recognize the outstanding work being done by people outside of the Investment Promotion Agencies in promoting their region.

The panel of judges based their selections on three main factors: international visibility, success and dedication.

Thompson has been extremely active in promoting investment in Hong Kong. During the past two years, he has led or participated in Hong Kong investment missions to the Chinese mainland, Japan, Korea, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, Canada and the United States, a government press release said.

It cited Thompson as saying that "it's a great honor to receive one of the FDI Personality of the Year Awards on behalf of Hong Kong."

Thompson said "Hong Kong is easy to sell. It's a business friendly city that allows companies to make profits and the simple low tax structure allows investors to keep the vast majority of their earnings. It's truly an ideal business environment."

Mike Rowse, the Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, congratulated Thompson on winning the award. He said, "This award is good news for Hong Kong and especially for Jim Thompson. His record of success as an investor and entrepreneur -- combined with active involvement with numerous Hong Kong government and private sector organizations promoting Hong Kong -- has made him one of our city's most prominent and effective advocates around the world."

Invest Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government department.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2003)