HONG KONG PRIORITIES FOR APEC

UNCLAS HONG KONG 004430 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC AND OES/OA USTR FOR STRATFORD AND ALTBACH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD APECO CH HK SUBJECT: HONG KONG PRIORITIES FOR APEC REF: A. STATE 177258 ¶B. STATE 184154 ¶1. (SBU) Econoff delivered Ref A demarche to Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department (TID) Assistant Director General Petty Lai on October 24. On November 9, Lai gave Econoff a non-paper laying out Hong Kong's positions on its major APEC priorities and said that Hong Kong generally supports U.S. positions on FTA draft models, technology choice principles, and IPR model guidelines. As for the November 1-3 Food Defense Workshop, Lai said that the relevant Hong Kong Government (HKG) officials were previously committed to other engagements and were unfortunately unable to attend. Econoff also delivered Ref B talking points and Food Defense Workshop summary to TID Trade Assistant Ada Kwan on November 13. Kwan thanked Econoff for the summary and said that the HKG would consider participation in future Food Defense related activities. ¶2. (SBU) The text of Hong Kong's APEC Priorities non-paper follows: Begin Text: -------------- APEC Economic Leader's Meeting 2006 - Positions and Views of Hong Kong on Major Issues Support for Multilateral Trading System -------------- Since the suspension of negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) in July, WTO members have still not yet reached a consensus on when and in what way to re-open the negotiations. We expect that the Leaders would issue a strong and firm statement aiming to urge the WTO members to double their efforts to resume as soon as possible DDA negotiations with flexible and pragmatic manners so as to achieve an early completion. Hanoi Action Plan for the Implementation of the Busan Roadmap -------------- -------------- The Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) is considering the Hanoi Action Plan for the implementation of the Busan Roadmap. Concrete work will commence next year. The smooth implementation of the Action Plan is critical to the achievement of the Bogor Goals. We anticipate steering from the Leaders concerning the way forward and reiteration of our determination to achieve the Bogor Goals by 2010 and 2020. Trade Facilitation -------------- 2006 is a pivotal year for trade facilitation. The SOM has endorsed the review findings on the Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAP) confirming the achievement of the targeted 5% reduction in trade transaction costs, and agreed on the framework of TFAP2 for a further 5% reduction in transaction costs by 2010. We look forward to the Leader's recognition of the efforts made by members and encourage the prompt implementation of concrete work. APEC Reform -------------- Senior officials are considering the reform proposals prepared by the Friends of the Chair Group on APEC Reform. We expect to see a more streamlined structure of APEC aiming for higher efficiency and effectiveness of operation, and greater focus of its work on the core areas. End Text. -------------- Cunningham