***********************************************************
The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang said today (November 9) that the Hong Kong Ministerial next month remained a key staging post towards the conclusion of the Doha Round by the end of 2006.
Attending an informal gathering of trade ministers from various World Trade Organisation (WTO) economies in Geneva, Mr Tsang said: " A lot of progress has already been made. We need to capture that progress and then to refocus for the final stretch."
"The Doha Round is a Development round. In this area, we need to harvest as many as possible agreement-specific proposals, particularly those submitted by the Least-developed Countries (LDCs).
"We should also commit to Duty Free Quota Free market access for LDCs, resolution of TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) and Public Health issue, and agreement in principle on an Aid-for-Trade package.
"From my recent travels, it seems that such a package would be essential in creating an environment of comfort that was lacking in a previous ministerial. Let us pursue this aspect with haste and urgency," he said.
While in Geneva, Mr Tsang also held bilateral meetings with the Director General of WTO Pascal Lamy, Pakistan's Minister for Commerce, Mr Humayun Akhtar Khan and the Vice-Minister of Commerce of the Mainland, Mr Yi Xiaozhun. Subjects discussed included review of the latest state of negotiations, preparations for, and the level of ambition for the Hong Kong Ministerial.
Mr Tsang will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (November 10).
Ends/Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Issued at HKT 12:56
NNNN
