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Following is the full text of an intervention by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mr Chau Tak Hay, during the 13th Annual APEC Ministerial Meeting in Shanghai today (October 17). Mr Chau spoke on Agenda Item 4, "Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System":
On behalf of the Hong Kong, China delegation, I would like to express our deepest appreciation to our host for their wonderful hospitality and for the excellent arrangements they have made for this very important meeting held here in this beautiful, charming and vibrant city of Shanghai.
In three weeks' time, the WTO is scheduled to hold its fourth Ministerial Conference. The world will be watching closely to see if the international trading community can finally get its act together after so much talking in the past two years in Geneva, and following the miserable failure in Seattle two years ago.
The WTO simply cannot afford a second failure. The launch in Doha of a new Round of multilateral trade negotiations is critical for restoring the credibility of the WTO and the multilateral trading system.
Mr Chairman, if Seattle has taught us anything, it is that a successful Ministerial Conference is only achievable if it is approached as a collective responsibility. What is at stake now is the credibility of the WTO as an institution to promote global liberalisation and non-discrimination. This is something that each and every member of the WTO should care deeply about.
We have arrived at an important moment in the history of the multilateral trading system. It is also a dangerous moment, for the further deterioration in global economic conditions and in many economies in our region as a consequence of the tragic events of September 11 in New York and Washington has made the launching of a new Round more pressing and more important than ever.
Hong Kong, China condemns in the strongest terms possible the atrocities which were perpetuated on 11 September. But these crimes against humanity have galvanised many WTO members to action. They have made us more determined to succeed and to go the extra mile in order to launch a new Round.
As Minister George Yeo [Singapore] has just reported, a number of us around this table, including myself and others not represented here, have recently attended two informal gatherings, first in Mexico and then a few days ago in Singapore, in an effort to narrow the differences among us in respect of the key issues. As a result of the meeting in Singapore, I am now reasonably hopeful that the foundation is there for the successful launch of a new Round in Doha.
There is still some distance to go, and if we are to close the gaps in the little time remaining, we must have the political will to deal with the issues with pragmatism and flexibility. It is time for us to exercise political leadership and show true accommodation for one another's positions.
I do not need to overemphasise the leadership role APEC can play in this process. We provided the impetus necessary for the conclusion of the Uruguay Round and we have continued to play a catalytic role in pushing for further trade liberalization.
In June when you, sir, chaired a most successful APEC Trade Ministers Meeting, we expressed our strong determination to launch a new Round in Doha. Now that we are just a few steps away from realizing our goal, APEC needs to present a united front and send an unequivocal message to underline our strongest possible determination to see the successful launch of a new Round at the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference.
End/Wednesday, October 17, 2001
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