Having the time to make breakfast for his children has special meaning for Phoebus Wong, a business emigrant from Hong Kong. It means he has achieved his primary goal since arriving almost 10 years ago - building successful businesses while still having the time to enjoy family life.

"In Hong Kong, I never had time to make breakfast for them, " says Mr. Wong. "Here I can. If I had not come to Ontario, I would have missed the golden times with my two children." That includes fishing with his teenage son, Jerry, in many of the lakes within a couple of hour's drive from their Southern Ontario home. Or taking pride in his daughter Sharon's progress through York University. When she first arrived in Ontario, Sharon spoke little English. Now, her father proudly points out, she is fluent in both English and French, thanks to the province's educational system. Sharon's mother, Veronica, has also had her own career working in a legal firm over the past decade.

"New business people who come here should use their past experience but it must be adapted to local requirements."

Mr. Wong was a banker and exporter in the clothing and textile business in Hong Kong. In Ontario, he set up clothing and textile export businesses and now is involved in four companies with around 100 employees. After conducting his research, he discovered advantages to setting up business in Ontario. "Transportation is an advantage," he says. "There is easy access to loading and then a good road transportation system, and the cost is very reasonable. We have easier access to U.S. and European markets."

"He adds that in Canada, there is no textile control quota system as there is in Hong Kong. "We can ship freely to Europe and the U.S. and the market is whatever you can develop."

For Mr. Wong, market research remains the key to starting a successful business. "New business people who come here should use their past experience, but it must be adapted to local requirements. That's very important." The basics of business still involve making a profit. But business people must look for the differing requirements.

"As an example, if we concentrate on selling summer clothing here, we are not going to do as well as we would with winter clothing, because the winters here are longer," he explains. "So that is a market niche we aimed for."

As president of the Chinese Canadian Textile and Garment Manufacturers and Marketers Association, Mr. Wong urges potential business immigrants to look around, attend government information seminars, and look for information within their chosen industry. His association produces magazines, industry tours, and seminars, and maintains contacts across the country.

But he emphasizes that Ontario has a lot more to offer than just a successful business life, "Basically, the quality of life is what I was looking for - better educational circumstances for my kids and a more complete family life," he says. "My family and I have no regrets about settling here. None."