The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, will represent the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to attend the annual gathering of Economic Leaders from the 18 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) member economies, to be held on November 24-25 in Vancouver, Canada.

The Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, will attend the APEC Ministerial Meeting on November 21-22.

The Director-General of Trade, Mr Alan Lai Nin, will attend the informal Senior Officials Meeting on November 19-20.

Miss Yue said: "This will be the first time that HKSAR, using the name 'Hong Kong, China', attends this important event in the region.

"It signifies the fact that HKSAR remains a separate and full member of APEC. We continue to speak for Hong Kong's own economic and trade interests."

"The Ministerial Meeting will review the activities of APEC in 1997 and set direction for the future.

"One of the focal points will be to identify a package of sectors for early voluntary liberalisation for submission to Economic Leaders.

"The challenge is to arrive at a balanced package which commands wide support among APEC members and has economic impact," she said.

"It is expected that Economic Leaders will discuss infrastructure development, electronic commerce and Asian-Pacific Region's financial stability," she said.

Miss Yue hoped that the Economic Leaders would exchange views on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) financial services negotiations now in progress in Geneva, and the desirability of pursuing further broad-based trade liberalisation in the WTO as the world moves into the new millennium.

APEC is the acronym of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum. APEC was established in 1989. Its members include Australia; Brunei; Canada; China; Chile; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; the Philippines; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand and the United States.