Head of American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong to step down next year
- AmCham president Tara Joseph says she will leave after ensuring a smooth leadership transition and wrapping up some ‘major initiatives’
- Departing executive plays down media report that decision was driven largely by city’s strict quarantine policy
Tara Joseph, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham), has confirmed she will be leaving the influential business organisation next year but played down a media report that her decision was driven by the city’s strict quarantine policy.
In a Tuesday night story, Reuters quoted Joseph as saying a primary reason for her departure was because she could not appeal to the government to ease its mandatory quarantine requirements while undergoing 21 days of isolation herself upon returning to Hong Kong.
“It is not in my nature to advocate on something and then embark on quarantine like a stooge,” she told the wire service.
But Joseph later told the Post the quarantine issue had been among several reasons, but not the main one, for making the decision to step down.
“I will stay on to steer the chamber through the next few months with a lot of great plans set for 2022,” she said from the United States. “We will be opening a new community hub and embarking on some major initiatives, and as I love the chamber and Hong Kong I want to see things through.”