Asia Pacific investors have been showing great interest in Bermuda as a potential home for some of their money at a major hedge fund conference in Hong Kong.

That was the message from Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) chief executive officer Cheryl Packwood yesterday, after the GaimAsia event at Hong Kong's JW Marriott hotel.

And now BIBA wants to take its message to Shanghai and Beijing.

BIBA was an associate sponsor of the event, which attracted around 400 delegates, and saw a steady stream of interested visitors to its exhibition booth.

BIBA also hosted a Bermuda reception at Hong Kong's Grand Hyatt hotel, which attracted around 70 guests.

"We were the only jurisdiction to be a sponsor," Ms Packwood said yesterday in a telephone interview from Hong Kong. "In years past, the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands have attended this event, but this was the first time Bermuda has come. And we got a lot of interest."

One the first day of the GaimAsia conference, Piers Alexander, an attorney based at the Hong Kong office of Bermuda international law firm Conyers Dill and Pearman (CD&P), spoke on funds in Bermuda and on the impact of the 2006 Investment Funds Act, which has given a clear legal framework for funds based on the Island.

Mr. Alexander also spoke at the Bermuda reception, as did his CD&P colleague, Bermudian Ben Dyer, who talked about the insurance and reinsurance sector.

Frances Woo, a managing partner with another Bermuda-based international law firm, Appleby, spoke about the process and advantages of listing on the Bermuda Stock Exchange. And Appleby trusts counsel Randall Krebs spoke about the Island as a base for trusts.

As well as nurturing the long-standing relationship between Hong Kong and Bermuda, BIBA's visit also attracted interest from mainland China.

International Finance News, an Asian media group, expressed interest in having BIBA organise similar events for Shanghai and Beijing.

"This whole trip has been superb," Ms Packwood said. "We are coming back to do a full round-table and to go on to Shanghai and Beijing. And we would like to take representation from Government and the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

"I've very pleased with what we've managed to accomplish in Hong Kong. It's been so worthwhile and pleasing to talk about Bermuda in an environment in which Bermuda has always been respected as being the jewel of the offshore jurisdictions, as a true financial centre."

Ms Packwood also gave an example of how travelling to put forward Bermuda's case in person can enhance the chances of more international business coming the Island's way.

"One Australian delegate told me he had a fund and was planning to set it up offshore," Ms Packwood said. "He was thinking of going to the Caymans, but his father said he shouldn't go there, he should try Bermuda. So he came to see us to find out more."

Ms Packwood is excited about the opportunity to meet with Chinese officials and will set to work on organising a date — possibly for late this year.