Learning experience: Alabama student Haywood Glenn Clayton says he is thrilled to be visiting Asia's world city, to witness its economic success.

Alabama student Haywood Glenn Clayton, 18, has hit the streets of Hong Kong for a first-hand look at how this dynamic Asian city has come to be rated the world's freest economy.

Haywood is visiting Hong Kong - Asia's world city - after winning a national essay contest in the US that asked students to assess Hong Kong's economic success story.

Hong Kong has been rated the world's freest economy for the past decade by the prestigious Heritage Foundation of the US, as well as the highly-regarded independent think-tank the Fraser Institute of Canada.

Haywood arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday for a five-day visit that has included briefings by Hong Kong and US government officials, a visit to the Legislative Council, a meeting with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, an overview of operations at an international manufacturing company and several media interviews.

Haywood said Hong Kong had turned out to be 'more than I expected'.

HK's crowds, culture a learning experience

He has enjoyed contrasting life in fast-paced Hong Kong - population 6.8 million - with that of his hometown of Madison and its 30,000 people.

Haywood said it was amazing to think that the entire population of the metropolitan area of Hunstville that includes his hometown - approximately 250,000 people -  could easily be accommodated in the high-rise apartment blocks of any one of five or six modern satellite cities that house several million of Hong Kong's residents.     

"I am blown away by the scale of the city, its culture and the food. It's a great learning experience," said Haywood, who starts studies in business and political science at the University of Alabama in Hunstville at the end of this month.

"It is amazing to look at Central and see so many skyscrapers. The nearest thing I've seen to this was when I drove down past Atlanta once, and even then we didn't go into the city - we just looked at the skyscrapers from the diatance.

"It's a huge difference to what I'm used to and what I've experienced before and I'm absolutely thrilled to be here.

"So far, from what I've seen, Hong Kong people are very trendy and stylish and Hong Kong students seem to be devoted, hard working and motivated."

Economic & Trade Office co-organises essay contest

Haywood is being accompanied on this visit by his father Conan, his Uncle Alfred and teacher Bill Couch, who had encouraged him to enter the competition organised by In The Classroom Media and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office New York.

The essay competition was based on a video Haywood saw in his Government class at Bob Jones High School in Madison. The video - Is America #1? - is an ABC News programme hosted by John Stossel. It was donated to Bill Couch by In The Classroom Media.

The contest required high school students in the 50 states to write an essay analysing John Stossel's assessment of the reasons for Hong Kong's economic success.

The contest attracted 332 entries from 11th and 12th grade students in 22 states. A panel of 11 teachers selected the top eight essays.

Judges included David Brooks of The New York Times; Deborah Majoras, Appointee to Chair the Federal Trade Commission; Harvey Rosenblum, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas; and Sarah Wu, Director of Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York.

Contest gave US students chance to research HK

Ms Wu presented the travel packages to Clayton at a presentation ceremony last week at Bob Jones High School.

"The essay contest was an innovative way to promote Hong Kong among the teenagers in the United States. Juniors and seniors in American high school were given the chance to find out more about Hong Kong's economic success via researching and essay writing," Ms Wu said.

"Haywood Clayton's essay is analytical and insightful. He has done a good job. I am also glad to see that teenagers in the United States do know Hong Kong pretty well."

Haywood Glenn Clayton's article can be found at: http://www.hongkong.org/ny_activities_HaywoodClayton.pdf.

A complete list of all winners can be found on the website: http://intheclassroom.org/stossel/contests/index.htm.