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Hong Kong staunchly supports the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the rules-based multilateral trading system, Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Miss Denise Yue, said at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference Plenary Sessions that started today (December 14).
She said free and open trade was manifested in Hong Kong's phenomenal economic growth and social development in recent years, adding that Hong Kong wanted to see tangible progress on all fronts of negotiations, in agriculture, non-agricultural market access, services, as well as in rules, development and other areas.
"Without doubt, agriculture is the lynchpin. Sadly, not enough progress has been made. I hope members will do their utmost in the negotiations this week to achieve more inroads," Miss Yue said. "Hong Kong, China¡¦s position on agriculture is clear: we support the reduction and elimination of all trade-distorting and restrictive measures."
At a press briefing this afternoon, Assistant Director-General of the Trade and Industry Department, Miss Rosanna Law, said as a constructive delegation, Hong Kong would do everything it could to enhance consensus building amongst conference delegations.
She said Hong Kong supported the reduction and elimination of all trade-distorting and restrictive measures in agriculture, and would push for the delivery of a development package in Hong Kong. It also supported the reduction and elimination of all tariffs on goods and barriers to the services trade.
Hong Kong wanted to see trade rules which were couched tightly enough to secure commitments and facilitate trade. Such trade rules were the guarantee of the multilateral trading system, she added.
Ends/Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:15
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