************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation:
The 14th General Meeting of Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC XIV) hosted by Hong Kong from November 28 to 30 will bring together representatives from the academia, business and government of the 25-member economies of PECC.
Describing the meeting as PECC's most important biennial event, Dr William Fung, PECC Chair and Chairman of Hong Kong Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation said: "This meeting represents the culmination of Hong Kong's tenure as Chair of PECC for 1999 - 2001.
"It will showcase what PECC has achieved in the past two years under our chairmanship, which will end on November 30," he added.
Hong Kong formally took up the chairmanship of PECC in October 1999. As Chair, Hong Kong will host PECC XIV at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre before the conclusion of its two-year term.
The main theme of PECC XIV is "Managing Globalisation in the 21st Century". It will examine the opportunities and challenges of globalisation, and how globalisation can best be managed for the benefit of both developing as well as advanced economies.
Sub-themes include charting the millennium trade agenda, strengthening financial markets and corporate governance, community building and seizing the e-opportunities.
"Our conference could not be more timely. Other than taking a fresh look at the post-Doha WTO deliberations, our speakers will also be sharing with participants their insight into the implications of the '911 incident' for the region given the intertwining nature of world issues. We think you will agree that the World now looks like a very different place and we all need to formulate new strategies."
Dr Fung pointed out that with China's accession to the WTO, the meeting would also provide a timely occasion to review the opportunities and challenges for the Mainland, for Hong Kong, and for the rest of the trading community.
"The Chief Executive Mr. Tung Chee Hwa will officiate and make a keynote speech at the opening ceremony while the Financial Secretary Mr Antony Leung will host a gala dinner to welcome the participants. Former US Trade Representative Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky will make a keynote address at the luncheon on November 28. Mr Long Yongtu, Chief Representative for Trade Negotiations, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, will speak on China's accession to the WTO on the same day," Dr Fung said.
"We are also honoured to have Mr. Ryutaro Hashimoto, former Prime Minister, Japan; Mr. Fidel V. Ramos, former President, the Philippines; Mr. Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister, France; Y.B. Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia; Mr. Jim Sutton, Minister for Trade Negotiation, New Zealand; Dr Rey D. Pagtakhan, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific), Canada; Senator Edgardo Boeninger, Honorary Member of Chile Pacific Foundation Board; and Mr. Mike Moore, Director General, WTO to speak at PECC XIV."
Locally, Mr. Chau Tak Hay, Secretary for Commerce and Industry; Mr. Joseph Yam, Chief Executive, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority; Mr. Andrew Sheng, Chairman, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission; Dr Victor Fung, Chairman, Airport Authority Hong Kong; and Chairman, Li & Fung Ltd.; and Prof. Edward Chen, Coordinator, PECC Trade Policy Forum; and President, Lingnan University, will speak at different plenary sessions.
Other world-renowned speakers include Mr. Yotaro Kobayashi, Chairman of the Board, Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd.; Mr. Timothy Ong, Chairman, Asia Inc Investments Holdings; Mr. John Legere, CEO, Global Crossing and Asia Global Crossing; Mr. Seiichi Kondo, Deputy Secretary General, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development; and Mr. Hernan Somerville, President, Chilean Association of Banks and Financial Institutions.
Those from the academia include Prof. Paul R. Krugman, Princeton University; Prof. L. Alan Winters, Sussex University; Prof. Ross Garnaut, Australian National University; and Prof. Ippei Yamazawa, Waseda University.
"PECC's unique tripartite composition, with representatives from academia, business and Government, enables it to contribute a more intellectual and balanced point of view to developments in the international trade and investment arena and to be different from other international economic and trade organisations," Dr Fung said.
PECC is a non-governmental organisation established in 1980 with the purpose of developing closer cooperation on trade and economic policy issues among economies in the region.
At present, it has a total of 25 member committees representing the economies of Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Ecuador; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Peru; the Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the United States; Viet Nam and the Pacific Islands Forum. France (Pacific Territories) and Mongolia are associate members.
The two institutional members are the Pacific Trade and Development Conference (PAFTAD) and Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC).
The 14th PECC General Meeting will be preceded by PECC Coordinating Group and Standing Committee meetings on November 27, which will discuss the work programme and policy issues of PECC respectively.
Details and the latest programme of the 14th PECC General Meeting are available on the website at http://www.peccxiv.org.
End/Wednesday, November 21, 2001
