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A sporty and casual 'All Black' outfit has been designed for APEC leaders attending the 1999 Economic Leaders Meeting in Auckland today (Monday).

And in a first for an APEC meeting, the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, and the 20 other economic leaders were not only provided with a shirt or jacket but a complete outfit for their annual get-together.

New Zealand's world-renowned fine wool was used for this year's APEC 'uniform' - a black sailing jacket, a long-sleeved, black polo shirt and a pair of black trousers.

The black sailing jacket and polo shirt both bear the striking silver fern logo, which makes them resemble the outfits worn by New Zealand's famous All Black rugby players and other national sporting teams.

The sailing jacket has particular relevance for Auckland, which is known as the 'City of Sails' and is hosting the America's Cup yachting challenge to be held later this year and early next year.

The choice of warm woolen wear seems to have been just the right thing for today's meetings - the weather was cold (about 12 degrees Celsius) and wet (heavy showers) when leaders arrived for their one-day retreat at the Auckland Museum.

The Chief Executive's APEC wardrobe also includes a stylish blue batik shirt collected at last year's APEC meeting in Kuala Lumpur and a brown, leather bomber jacket embossed with his name and the APEC logo which he picked up at the 1997 APEC annual meeting in Vancouver.

End/Monday, September 13, 1999

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