Issue
6
-
CONFIDENTIAL
Objective/explanation
Present status/progress
Secretary for Trade and Industry
Hong Kong's
participation
in the
Pacific
Economic
Cooperation Conference (PECC)
Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) (i.e. the Hawke Initiative) : Hong Kong's participation
Hong Kong attended as observer the seventh General Meeting of PECC held in Auckland on 12-15 November 1989. During the meeting, Hong Kong made a statement indicating its interest in seeking membership on PECC.
Hong Kong was not invited to the inaugural Ministerial meeting of APEC held in Canberra on 6-7 November 1989. At the Canberra Ministerial, it was left that the participation of Hong Kong, China and Taiwan should be addressed in the next Ministerial to be held in Singapore in mid-1990. The Hong Kong Government has all along indicated a clear interest in joining APEC, given its status and active role on the GATT, its importance as a separate economic entity and as integral part of the regional economy.
The Executive Council will be consulted shortly on the way forward. The Trade Advisory Board agreed that Hong Kong should seek full membership on PECC as soon as practicable.
Hong Kong Government is continuing its lobbying efforts directed at the core group.
China
interest*
UK
interest*
X
X
X
X