. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/ST/4 
15 December 2011  
 
(11-6537) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011 Original:   English 
 
  
HONG KONG, CHINA 
 
Statement by Mr Gregory SO Kam-leung 
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development 
  1. It has been two years since we last gathered in Geneva for the Seventh Ministerial 
Conference.  Our meeting this week gives us an opportunity jointly to review the WTO's work, assess 
the reality we are facing, and chart the way forward for the Organization. 
2. Since the last Ministerial Conference, we have seen modest progress in a few areas of 
negotiation but the conclusion of the Doha Round is nowhere in sight despite our decade-long work.  
We have reached a point where the credibility and re levance of the multilateral trading system and the 
WTO is being tested.  That said, the WTO is much more than solely the Doha Round, important though that is.  In this regard, I have several ke y points I wish to make about the ongoing mandate of 
the WTO. 
3. First of all, I reaffirm Hong Kong, China's commitment to the primacy of the multilateral 
trading system and the WTO , whose stable, transparent, inclusiv e, and rules-based structure forms 
the backbone of global trade.  The WTO has helped to maintain and enhance trade flows, monitor the 
global trading environment, and keep protectioni sm in check.  We note the clear evidence that 
a greater level of trade contributes to growth, development and jobs, and urge all Members to 
maintain an open trading environment. 
4. It is vital that the WTO sends a clear and strong message on anti-protectionism .  It is 
unthinkable that the body responsible for libera lizing trade could not, in these difficult economic 
times, make a very strong statement about main taining open markets and not taking protectionist 
measures.  G-20 and APEC Leaders have shown th e way forward here, and I earnestly hope you, 
Chair, will use your utmost endeavours to have  strong and clear language on the matter in the 
final outcome.  In this plea I am joining a significant body of Ministers who are later today making a public pledge on this matter. 
5. Hong Kong, China wishes to reaffirm the importa nce of the judicial function of the WTO.  
The dispute settlement system  is a unique feature of the WTO and one that gives the body 
legitimacy and strength.  It must be kept up to da te and responsive to changing circumstances and be 
accessible by all Members.  We should thus ensure that all Members have the capacity to use the 
system, and if they do not, are provided with adequate assistance to do so. 
6. I am very pleased that those Members who are parties to the WTO Agreement on 
Government Procurement (GPA) have, this morning, been able to agree to an improved and 
updated agreement comprising expanded commitments.  It is also very encouraging that several 
WTO Members are actively pursuing accession to the GPA,  most particularly China, which has tabled WT/MIN(11)/ST/4 
Page 2  
 
  a new improved offer.  GPA membership brings ma ny benefits, and we woul d encourage others to 
consider joining too. 
7. Hong Kong, China remains concerned about the proliferation of regional trade 
agreements  (RTAs) and their impact on the multilate ral trading system.  We see value in 
WTO Members assessing the systemic implications of RTAs for the multilateral trading system and 
the relationship between them, within the mandate  of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements.  
We consider that this could help Members reflec t on the systemic implications of RTAs for the 
multilateral trading system and discuss practices th at can help further the latter's objectives.  The 
results could be reported to the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the WTO. 
8. I would like to extend Hong Kong, China's ap preciation for the excellent work being 
undertaken under the auspices of the Aid-for-Trade  programme.  This programme, established at the 
Sixth Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in 2005, h as been very well received by all, as attested to 
in the Third Global Review of Aid for Trade undertaken earlier this year.  The concrete results of this 
work programme, and the priorities set for future wo rk, reinforce our belief that Aid for Trade is an 
important complement to the trade liberali zation process, particularly for the LDCs. 
9. With regard to least developed countries  (LDCs), I would like to welcome the small but 
positive steps we are taking at this Ministerial to help  LDCs to better integrate into the global trading 
system:  the Services Waiver;  the LDC Accession Decision further to streamline, strengthen and operationalize the 2002 guidelines;  and the extension of  the transition period under Article 66.1 of the 
TRIPS Agreement.  But more must be done, incl uding on cotton and on Duty-Free Quota-Free market 
access for LDCs. 
10. Last but not least, I wish to emphasise that  the WTO must be the body which tackles 
new trade-related issues  as they arise.  It is vital that all Members should be able to discuss 
trade-related issues that concern them.  It is also vi tal that the WTO is able to stay relevant to the 
changing pattern of issues that affects trade.  Matte rs that need to be aire d in the WTO do change over 
the years.  For example, we need to recognize th e vital importance of globa l supply and value chains 
in international trade and in modern manufactur ing and processing industries.  Hong Kong, China 
considers that this is an area that the WTO shoul d study in more depth as to how the Organization can 
further facilitate trade in a more holistic manner. 
11. As the Director-General just pointed out, the WTO is  at a crossroads.  It is clear from the very 
low common denominator which h as been hammered out in the Elem ents for Political Guidance at 
this Ministerial, that the WTO system faces severe cha llenges.  Clearly this is a very difficult time to 
try to drive through significant trade liberalizati on, when the developed world is facing its most 
serious crisis in 70 years, and the developing world is  concerned at how all the uncertainty will affect 
their at times somewhat fragile growth patterns.  But equally, if the WTO cannot deliver, then 
Members will be tempted to use other avenues for ma king trade deals, or indeed turn away from the 
multilateral trading system.  This wo uld have very serious consequen ces.  It will take political will 
and determination to set the Organization on the right course going forward.  We must together invest 
in the Doha negotiations and the in stitutional functions of the Organi zation to reinforce its credibility 
as the custodian of world trade.  It is up to us to  deliver at this critical juncture and I call on your 
support to make it happen.  
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