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Following is the full text of the welcoming remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Industry, Mr CHAU Tak Hay, at the World Services Congress 2001 Congress Dinner tonight (September 20): (English only)
Mr Cheng, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Today marks the tenth day following the heinous and unforgivable terrorist attacks in America. I would like to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the innocent victims of these crimes against humanity.
And now, on behalf of the Hong Kong Government, I would like to convey a very warm welcome to all of you, particularly those who are visitors to Hong Kong.
I am particularly happy to see that many American delegates have managed to come, despite the sad and difficult situation at home. This sends a strong signal to all of us. Despite all the sorrow and anger that the tragic events of September 11 have brought upon us, life has to go on and we must keep moving forward in all our endeavours to make the world a better and safer place for people everywhere.
It was very much in this spirit that, shortly after the catastrophic events of September 11, the US Trade Representative, Mr Bob Zoellick, stated emphatically that the November WTO (World Trade Organisation) Ministerial Conference must proceed. I cannot agree with him more that "it is important that the WTO meeting in Doha proceed so that the world trading system can continue to promote international growth, development and openness."
For Hong Kong and many other members of the WTO, including the United States, the Doha Ministerial not only must be held but it must also succeed. The multilateral trading system is too important for us to contemplate another failure after Seattle. We must therefore all do our best to ensure that at Doha we will reach a decision to launch a New Round of multilateral trade negotiations.
My audience tonight does not need to be reminded why we must launch a New Round at Doha. Over the past century, we have witnessed the disastrous consequences of protectionism as well as the positive power of trade liberalisation. Successive rounds of multilateral trade negotiations have reduced customs tariffs, removed barriers to trade and brought hope and prosperity to millions and millions of people around the world.
Despite the Uruguay Round, the work of the WTO is unfinished. Barriers to trade, both in services and in goods, still exist. They must be further reduced and ultimately eliminated altogether. And this can only be done in a New Round under the WTO.
In the past few weeks, some progress has been made, in Geneva and elsewhere. But much more work remains to be done if we are to make the Doha Ministerial a success. To achieve this, each and every member of the WTO must be prepared to accept compromises. It is only through a process of give and take that we can agree on an agenda for a New Round that is balanced, forward looking and takes account of the interests of all WTO members, both developed and developing.
Ladies and gentlemen, as soon as I stop talking you will be hearing from Mike Moore, the Director-General of the WTO, who cannot be here in person because the preparatory work for Doha is in a critical phase in Geneva, but has sent us a video. So I suppose I had better shut up immediately so that you may hear from Mr Moore.
Thank you very much.
End/Thursday, September 20, 2001
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