XN000022-1996-05-03 — Page 9

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Seminar to consult HK trade on WTO agenda

The Trade Department will be holding a seminar next Thursday (May 9) to inform Hong Kong's business sector of the issues under consideration for inclusion in the agenda of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) first Ministerial Conference scheduled for December in Singapore, and to hear their views.

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Entitled "Trade Liberalisation Seminar Hong Kong Business and the WTO Agenda", the seminar is being organised in co-operation with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.

The Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, will open the seminar which will be held between 9 am and 12.45 pm at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Announcing details of the seminar, the Deputy Director-General of Trade, Mr Tam Wing-pong said today (Friday): "Hong Kong is a staunch supporter of the WTO multilateral trading system as a cornerstone of our trade policy. The multilateral principles of non-discrimination, national treatment and transparency provide a level playing field for international trade which best serves Hong Kong's trade interest.

"As an active participant in the WTO, we attach great importance to the Singapore Ministerial Conference (SMC) where the future direction of the WTO will be defined."

Mr Tam said in preparing for the SMC, the Trade Department had been reviewing Hong Kong's priorities and concerns to identify areas in the WTO agreements and new issues which should be included in the future agenda.

"For the purpose of formulating Hong Kong's agenda for the SMC, we would like to hear the views of the business community before formally finalising Hong Kong's position," he added.

Mr Tam said on the basis of views expressed so far in various fora, a tentative outline of the SMC agenda was gradually emerging as follows:-

The SMC should be the occasion to take stock of the implementation of the Uruguay Round agreements;