Bermuda-based PartnerRe announced this week that it has been granted a licence to operate a branch in Honk Kong.

Mr. Patrick Thiele, President and CEO of PartnerRe, formally inaugurated the branch operations at a cocktail reception held on October 18 and said: "Creating a branch office in Honk Kong represents a further step in our strategic initiative to more effectively serve our clients in the Asian markets." Reporting to the Singapore regional headquarters, the Honk Kong branch will be responsible for treaty business emanating from China (including Honk Kong and Macau), Taiwan, Indochina and Mongolia.

Treaty business emanating from all other Asian countries will continue to be written in Singapore.