KT talks about Hong Kong and China in his CEO Message email I received 15 minutes ago. Here is the relevant part of his message
Last week, Kochie, Deputy Chairman Kevin Osborn and a group of Senior Executives travelled to Hong Kong to attend our second annual business lunch at the magnificent Hong Kong Football Club. If you are thinking of travelling to HK, I would encourage you take a moment to check out this incredible establishment, it's amazing! But what exactly are we trying to achieve in China, other than enjoy the fine food and hospitality of the good folk over there?
Well I can tell you, don't expect to see an AFL side relocate to the Chinese mainland any time soon! Unfortunately there are precious few AFL standard grounds over there, but I've got to say the enthusiasm of the kids playing our game is infectious. As you may recall we are the sponsors of Team China, who visited us last year and came to watch us play Sydney at Adelaide Oval.
These lads just love the game, and will take every possible opportunity they can to have a kick and a catch of the footy. We are proud to be able to support their dream to just play our indigenous game.
But it's not an ambition to introduce AFL to a billion new people, and sign half of them up to a PAFC membership (as nice as that would be!), that is compelling us to continue with this strategy. Nor is it a desire to unearth the next Chad Wingard out of downtown Beijing, an equally appealing thought!
Our goal is simple. We would like to do business with China. But, as with everything we else we do, we believe that if we are to build meaningful relationships with Chinese partners they need to know who we are and what we stand for. Our philosophy is that you must give before you take, and to that end we have initiated a number of important associations to demonstrate our commitment to building these relationships.
Firstly, we have committed to sponsoring Team China for at least the next 3 years and will help to bring them back to Australia to compete in the AFL International series in 2015. We are the major sponsor of the South China AFL competition which incorporates the Hong Kong, Macau and Guanghzou region. A small area incorporating over 20 million people! We are also the major sponsor of the Guandong AFL competition, another province located in South China.
On the ground in South Australia we are also engaging with the Chinese born university student community. Our role involves helping these students, many of whom are living away from home for the first time, to feel comfortable living here in Adelaide. What better way than by whacking a Port Adelaide scarf around their neck, taking them down to the Mall for the march before unleashing our weird and wonderful local game on them!
Early days, and we might have scared a few of the students back to their homework, but generally they have been loving the experience!! All of these things help to define the Port Adelaide way. Friendly, inclusive, fun and joined at the hip by a love for our Club and our game.
We hope that Chinese companies, interested in furthering their business interests in Australia and South Australia, will come to see Port Adelaide for what it is an elite, professional sporting organisation, competing in the highest profile sport in the land, that is committed to its community as deeply as the Port Adelaide community is committed to their Club. We would like to think that makes us pretty attractive partner material. We'll find out soon enough!