Press Release

Government invites input in WTO services negotiations
Monday, February 28, 2005

The Government is inviting further input from the business sector and other interested parties on the areas that Hong Kong, China (HKC) may pursue with our trading partners the liberalisation of trade in services in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The WTO aims to reach legally enforceable agreements on global trade liberalisation through multilateral negotiations. To prepare for the new round of service negotiations launched in 2000, the Government had invited views from the business sector and the other interested parties on the objectives and priorities for Hong Kong in the negotiations in 2002. Having regard to the views received, the Government tendered Hong Kong's initial requests to 20 WTO Members, seeking market access commitments in areas where our industries have expressed interest. Reciprocally, Hong Kong has received requests from 16 WTO members. The Government submitted Hong Kong's initial services offers in April 2003.

The WTO services negotiations have now entered a new stage and members have embarked on another round of request-and-offer with the aim of tabling revised offers on services by May 2005. "We envisage that the services negotiations will intensify in the coming months as more members submit their revised requests and offers," a Government spokesman said.

"To better prepare Hong Kong for the gradually intensified services negotiations and to ensure that its participation in the negotiations represents the prevailing interests of our community, we are seeking further views from the business community on restrictive or discriminatory trade measures encountered in overseas markets, or positive undertakings which are conducive to trade," the spokesman continued.

Comments may be sent to the Multilateral Division of the Trade and Industry Department, or via fax (2390 7479) or email (mdiv1@tid.gov.hk). 

Ends