WT/MIN(17)/ST/3  
 
13 December 2017  
(17-6879) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY MR EDWARD YAU  
SECRETARY FOR COMMER CE AND ECONOMIC DEVE LOPMENT  
HONG KONG, CHINA 
First of all, I would like to thank the Government of Argentina for hosting the Eleventh WTO 
Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, and for all the warm hospitality that has been extended to 
the Hong Kong, China (HKC) delegation . 
 
It is also my honour to be one of the three Vice Chairs of this important event. And I must thank 
you all for your tr ust. 
 
Trust is indeed what we most need now. This has been a challenging time for us all. In spite of 
Madam Chair's earlier call for serious reflection, we have come to Buenos Aires with more anxieties 
than certainty as there seems to be no prospect of any  agreed outcomes so far. The anxiety is 
apparent as we could not bring ourselves together to pronounce a common vision in support of the 
rule-based multilateral trading system, which the 164 member economies have worked so hard to 
build and preserve in the  last two decades.  
 
As a founding Member of the WTO, and a staunch supporter of our rule -based multilateral trading 
system that it embodies, HKC is troubled to see that the multilateral trading system being cast in 
doubt, and worse still, put under attack.  We should all take a moment to think about why the WTO 
was established in the first place. Between trade war and a predictable rule -based system for 
resolving trade disputes, the choice is obvious. And for the past 22 years, the WTO has remained 
the best option to keep trade war at bay.  
 
When I say keeping trade war at bay, the obvious example is our ability to settle dispute among 
Members through a functioning WTO system in accordance with rules and jurisprudence 
established. Of course no international or ganization can claim perfection and the WTO is no 
exception. But the WTO is as good as we make it. The WTO is a forum in which each Member 
possesses an equal voice, as well as a shared responsibility. A shared responsibility is more 
important now than ever  towards upholding it instead of walking away from it. It would therefore 
be incumbent upon us to help the WTO to rise up to all these challenges.   
 
One immediate action that cannot be deferred is the early commencement of the Appellate Body 
Member select ion process. HKC urges this to be restored so as to preserve one of the most 
important pillars of the WTO.  
 
Despite the strong headwind, we should not give up negotiations that can bring about improved 
disciplines and better market access for the benefit o f all. We must also ensure that the WTO 
remains relevant to the evolving global trading environment. We therefore strongly support the 
statement released by the Friends of the System published earlier this morning.  
 
Intensive negotiations over the past few  weeks and months have produced no ready deals and the 
window is quickly closing. It would be no small achievement if we could reach a consensus on our 
future work over a number of topics such as e -commerce, investment facilitation, and MSMEs 
(micro, small  and medium enterprises)  – including how to improve MSMEs' access to information 
through transparency measures and good regulatory practices.  
 WT/MIN(17)/ST/3  
 
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  Services, of course, remains to be HKC's priority, and we would like to see the negotiations on 
domestic regulations in services trade intensified and the mandate under the GATS (General 
Agreement on Trade in Services) fulfilled. We also acknowledge that Members' development needs 
must also be taken into account in different aspects of the WTO's work.  
 
With these remarks, I support the Chair's call for all Members to play a constructive role in the 
final discussions and to make the Ministerial Conference as well as the WTO a success for 
everyone. Too much is at stake to let it slip through our hands.  
 
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