Hong Kong - Former US vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin made her first appearance in Asia Wednesday, giving a talk to Hong Kong investors and bankers at an event which, however, excluded the press. Palin gave a 90-minute speech billed as a "wide-ranging talk about governance, economics and US and Asian affairs" to a packed ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hong Kong's city centre.
However, only guests and personnel from the host company, brokerage house CLSA, heard her talk which was closed to journalists, report on RTHK radio said.
A CLSA spokeswoman said they had decided to exclude reporters from the forum so Palin could make an "unfettered" presentation to investors.
According to those who attended, Palin gave a compelling and well-prepared speech saying she was sharing "candidly a view from Main Street, USA."
The RTHK report said she began by talking about the links between her state and Hong Kong, and then moved on to economic issues and China.
She urged China to be a more responsible global citizen and allow greater freedom domestically.
The event was Palin's first major appearance since she resigned as governor of Alaska in July and was thought by some attendees to illustrate her attempts to improve her political credentials ahead of a possible run for the presidency in 2012.
