Hong Kong, China's Participation in the WTO

Hong Kong, China takes its rights and obligations in the WTO seriously and has all along been actively participating in the WTO. In addition to the hosting of the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in December 2005, representatives from Hong Kong, China have, from time to time, taken up appointments as chairman or vice chairman of councils/committees/panels under the WTO in their personal capacities:

• In 2008, 2009 and 2011, Mr. Martin Glass, our Permanent Representative of the Hong Kong SAR to the WTO, was elected as the Chairman of the Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance. In 2010, Mr. Glass was elected as the Chairman of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
  
  

• In 2004 and 2006 respectively, Mr. Tony Miller, our former Permanent Representative was elected as the Chairman of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and Chairman of the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation.
  
  

• In 2003, Mr. Joshua Law, our former Permanent Representative, was elected as the Chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration. Mr. Ivan Lee, the Deputy Representative of the Hong Kong SAR to the WTO, was elected as the Chairman of the Committee on Customs Valuation.
  
  

• In 2001, Mr. Stuart Harbinson, our former Permanent Representative, was elected as the Chairman of the WTO General Council, the highest decision-making body of the WTO after the Ministerial Conference.

As a free and open economy, Hong Kong, China has also set good examples to other WTO members in implementing various WTO obligations. We have implemented many of our Uruguay Round commitments well ahead of the agreed timetable. As soon as the WTO was established, Hong Kong, China implemented its Uruguay Round tariff commitments fully. Hong Kong, China has also been contributing papers to facilitate discussion on different issues in the various WTO fora.