WT/TPR/ 423 
 
12 Octob er 2018 
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Trade Policy Review Body    
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW MECHANISM  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON  
OF THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY  
HONG KONG, CHINA 
Arrangements for Review Meeting  
1.  In pursuance of Article IV, paragraph 4 and Annex 3 of the WTO Agreement, a meeting of the 
Trade Policy Review Body is scheduled for 26 and 28 November  2018 to conduct the eighth review 
of the trade policies and practices of Hong Kong, China  (WTO/AIR/TPR/ 76). 
2.  This communication sets out arrangements concerning the review meeting. In this connection, 
attention is also drawn to the procedures for the conduct of reviews contained in the rules of 
procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body (WT/TPR/6/Rev.4).  
3.  Membe rs' attention is drawn to the use of the "alternative" time -frame by Hong Kong, 
China for submission of written questions and responses (see below).  
1  QUESTIONS IN WRITING  IN ADVANCE OF THE M EETING AND MAIN POIN TS 
4.  Members wishing to submit written questions  to the Member under review should do 
so at least five weeks before the review meeting, to al low replies to be submitted 
one week prior to the first session of the meeting. For the forthcoming review, such questions 
should therefore be with the Trade Polic ies Review Division of the Secretariat ( tprd@wto.org ) by 
5.30 p.m.  on Monday, 22 October  2018, at the latest.  Delegations are informed that Hong Kong, 
China has opted for the traditional way of handling questions and answers . 
5.  In accordance with the rules of procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body 
(WT/TPR/6/Rev.4,  paragraph 17), Members are reminded that they should group their written 
questions into the following three categories so as to facilitate responses: those related to the 
Secretariat report (with a reference to relevant paragraph numbers); those concerning the 
Government report (with a reference to relevant paragraph numbers); and other questions.  
6.  The Secretariat shall identify the main points contained in th e questions submitted at least 
five weeks before a review meeting, post them on the Members' website one week before the 
meeting, and distribute a revised list of main points during the first session of a review when 
questions received after the five-week deadline give rise to significantly new issues. The main points 
may be found on the Members' website under "Forthcoming Meetings: Documents for Meetings".  
2  ANSWERS  IN WRI TING BY THE MEMBER UNDER REVIEW  
7.  Answers by the Member under review should be distribute d in writing. Advance questions 
submitted by the five-week deadline before the start of the TPRB review should be 
answered in writing by the Member under review one week prior to the start of the 
meeting ( 19 November  2018). Written answers will be made ava ilable on the Members' 
website four working days prior to the meeting ( 20 November  2018). Questions posed 
subsequently should be answered, to the extent possible, before the start of the second session of 
the meeting. Questions left unanswered at the end o f the second session should be answered in WT/TPR/4 23 
 
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  writing no later than one month after the meeting with some latitude in the Chair's discretion for 
Members reviewing a very large number of questions.  
8.  In the course of the discussions at the review meeting, the Me mber under review may indicate 
that it intends to provide supplementary information, in writing, on specific points raised. Upon 
receipt, the Secretariat will circulate a document containing this information to all Members.  
3  DISCUSSANT  
9.  In consultation with the Member under review, the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body 
may choose a discussant who, in her/his personal capacity, will introduce the discussions in the 
Body. H.E. Mr  Alfredo Suescum  (Panama ) will act as discussant for the review of  Hong Kong, China . 
4  STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING  
10.  Trade policy reviews cover four broad headings:  
a. appreciation of the full range of the Member's trade policies and practices;  
b. relevant background: wider economic and developmental needs, including the 
external  environment;  
c. impact of the Member's trade policies and practices on the functioning of the multilateral 
trading system; and  
d. general comments by way of assessment and evaluation.  
11.  Meetings take place in two sessions. The first session is devoted to the openi ng statements by 
the Member under review and the discussant, and remarks and questions from the floor. The 
discussion in the second session, when the Member under review will reply to questions, is based 
on main themes identified after the opening meeting by the Chairperson, the discussant and the 
Secretariat in consultation with the Member.  
12.  As indicated in the rules of procedure of the Trade Policy Review Body 
(WT/TPR/6/Rev.4,  paragraph 21), the speakers list will follow the order in which questions are 
received by the Secretariat and, in the event of more than one batch of questions, the final batch 
will determine the order of speakers. Delegations not submitting written questions will continue to 
speak second, in the order in which their flags are raise d. On the day before each review meeting, 
the Secretariat will post on the WTO Members' website a provisional  list of speakers for the 
first session of that meeting, for Members' advance information.  
5  DOCUMENTATION AND PRESS ARRANGEMENTS  
13.  Reports by the Memb er under review and the Secretariat are contained in the 
following  documents:  
WT/TPR/G/ 380 Report by Hong Kong, China  
WT/TPR/S/ 380 Hong Kong, China: Report by the Secretariat  
14.  The press embargo for the review of Hong Kong, China  will end at 2 p.m.  Geneva ti me on 
26 November  2018. 
6  RECORD OF THE MEETING  
15.  The record of the meeting will be circulated as a draft to Members for comments on their own 
statements and placed on the WTO website.  
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