XN000022-1996-09-04 — Page 8

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Ministers from APEC economies will discuss the participation of, and linkage with, other support groups and institutions which address the needs of SMEs. They will also exchange views with representatives from the private sector of the APEC economies on issues related to SMEs.

Mr Denis Lee Wing-kwan and Mrs Rosa Hung Shum Kan-fong, chairman and member respectively of the Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, will attend the meeting as representatives from the private sector of Hong Kong and will participate in the discussion with ministers.

Other government officials including the Director-General of Industry, Mr Francis Ho, and Assistant Director-General of Industry, Mr Wong Hon-ho, will also attend the meeting.

The first APEC SME ministerial meeting was held in Osaka, Japan in October 1994 and the second one in Adelaide, Australia in September last year.

APEC comprises 18 member economies, namely: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and the United States of America.

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Consultation on draft reproductive bill to close soon

The consultation period of the consultation paper on the draft Reproductive Technology Bill published by the Provisional Council on Reproductive Technology (PCRT) on July 17 to seek public views on three major issues arising from the bill will be closed on September 15.

"As the future ordinance has far-reaching implications on the community, the PCRT hopes to receive as many views as possible during the consultation period which will close on September 15, 1996," a spokesman of PCRT said.

"The PCRT will then carefully examine and consider the views received before finalising the recommendations on the provisions for the draft Reproductive Technology Bill.