DGTI to attend the First APEC Senior Officials Meeting in 2001
(Friday, February 9, 2001)

The Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Joshua Law, will leave Hong Kong tomorrow (February 10) to attend the First Senior Officials Meeting (SOM I) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2001 to be held on 12 and 13 February in Beijing. It will be the first SOM under China's APEC chairmanship this year.

The Hong Kong, China delegation to SOM I and related meetings will comprise officials from the Commerce and Industry Bureau, Financial Services Bureau, Health and Welfare Bureau, Trade and Industry Department, the Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing, Innovation and Technology Commission, Customs and Excise Department and Immigration Department.

Preceding SOM I, Senior Officials will gather for a retreat on 11 February for an informal discussion of the themes and priorities of APEC's work this year.

At SOM I, Senior Officials will consider proposals to take forward instructions and initiatives arising from the APEC Economic Leaders' and Ministerial Meetings held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam in November last year.

Major issues for discussion will include APEC's contribution to the strengthening of the multilateral trading system, trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, economic and technical cooperation (Ecotech), new economy issues and means to promote greater interaction with the community.

A number of committees/sub-committees will meet after SOM I, also in Beijing. These include the SOM Sub-Committee on Ecotech, Committee on Trade and Investment, Economic Committee, Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance, Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures, Informal Experts Group on Mobility of Business People, Group on Services, Market Access Group, Government Procurement Experts Group, Group on Economic Infrastructure and Ad Hoc Task Force on the Development of APEC Principles on Trade Facilitation.

In connection, China is co-hosting with Australia an APEC High Level Symposium on E-Commerce and Paperless Trading on 9-10 February. The Hong Kong, China Delegation comprises representatives from the Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau, Trade and Industry Department, Hong Kong Post, Government Supplies Department and the private sector. Concurrently, an exhibition of APEC Achievements in E-Commerce and Paperless Trading is also being held on 9-12 February. Hong Kong Post and the company responsible for developing and operating the Government Electronic Service Delivery Scheme participate in the exhibition.

Member economies of APEC are: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; the People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Republic of the Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the United States of America and Viet Nam.