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The 23rd since its establishment in 1985, the meeting will discuss the formulation of integration proposals for the second stage, the functioning of the Textiles Monitoring Body (TMB), the operation of rules of origin, and preparation for the WTO Ministerial Conference.
Mr Tam will attend the second Senior Officials Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) in Cebu, the Philippines next Wednesday before joining the Hong Kong delegation at the ITCB meeting in Bangkok on May 23.
ITCB is an inter-governmental organisation established to achieve the elimination of discrimination and protectionism directed against the textiles and clothing exports of its members in the world market, to achieve the full application of GATT rules and principles, and to assist its members in ensuring that their rights under the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) are effectively enforced.
Membership of ITCB is open to all developing countries and territories exporting textiles and clothing. At present, there are 22 members, including China, Hong Kong and Macau.
As a major exporter of textiles and clothing, Hong Kong has benefited from its participation in ITCB which helped to unite the developing countries and territories during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations and contributed to the conclusion of WTO ATC.
With the establishment of WTO, ITCB continues to play an important role in monitoring and pursuing the fruitful implementation of ATC in integrating the textiles and clothing sector into the WTO regime through a 10-year transitional period to phase out quantitative restrictions under MFA.
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DGT to attend APEC senior officials meeting in Cebu
The Director-General of Trade, Mr Tony Miller, will depart for Cebu, the Philippines, tomorrow (Monday) to attend this year's second Senior Officials Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) to be held between May 22 and 25 to review work progress in preparing for the implementation of the APEC goal of free trade and investment by 2010/2020.
Mr Miller will lead a Hong Kong delegation comprising officials from the Trade and Industry Branch, the Financial Services Branch, the Industry Department, the Customs and Excise Department, the Government Supplies Department, the Department of Health and the Trade Department.
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