XN000022-1993-11-16 — Page 2

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1993

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FS TO ATTEND APEC LEADERS MEETING

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THE

FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, WILL LEAVE FOR THE UNITED STATES TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO ATTEND THE ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION (APEC) ECONOMIC LEADERS MEETING IN SEATTLE ON NOVEMBER 20.

HE WILL BE REPRESENTING HONG KONG AT THIS MEETING WHICH HAS BEEN CALLED BY U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR APEC ECONOMIC LEADERS TO DISCUSS IN AN INFORMAL ATMOSPHERE FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REGION.

THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED TO FOCUS ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE REGION AS 21ST CENTURY APPROACHES, ECONOMIC PRIORITIES OF APEC MEMBERS AND MECHANISMS TO HELP MEET THESE PRIORITIES.

PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL BE HOSTING A DINNER FOR APEC LEADERS AND MINISTERS ON NOVEMBER 19 BEFORE THE LEADERS RETREAT TO BLAKE ISLAND FOR THE MEETING ON NOVEMBER 20.

A JOINT STATEMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED.

THIS FIRST-EVER APEC ECONOMIC LEADERS MEETING IS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ANNUAL APEC MINISTERIAL MEETING WHICH PLACE FROM NOVEMBER 17 TO 19.

HELD TAKES

THE HONG KONG DELEGATION ATTENDING THE MINISTERIAL MEETING IS LED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR TH CHAU.

JAPAN,

CURRENT MEMBERS OF APEC ARE AUSTRALIA, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM, CANADA, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, HONG KONG, INDONESIA, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, MALAYSIA, NEW ZEALAND, THE PHILIPPINES,

SINGAPORE, CHINESE TAIPEI, THAILAND AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

MR MACLEOD WILL MEET THE MEDIA TO SPEAK ABOUT HIS VISIT TO SEATTLE AT THE PRESS ROOM OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUILDING AT 5.15 PM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE PRESS FACILITY THE AIRPORT TOMORROW NIGHT WHEN HE LEAVES FOR THE UNITED STATES.

AT

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