WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO  RESTRICTED 
GPA/O/V/HKG/1 
30 January 2012  
 
(12-0629) 
Committee on Government Procurement Original:   English/ 
 anglais/  inglés 
  
 
VERIFICATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS  
UNDER ARTICLE XXIV:7 OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT 
 
Communication from Hong Kong, China
1 
 
 
 The following submission, dated 30 January 2012, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Hong Kong, China. 
 
 
Comité des marchés publics  
 
 
VÉRIFICATION DES RÉSULTATS DES NÉGOCIATIONS 
AU TITRE DE L'ARTICLE XXIV:7 DE L'ACCORD 
SUR LES MARCHÉS PUBLICS 
 
Communication de Hong Kong, Chine1 
 
 
 La communication ci-après, datée du 30 janvier  2012, est distribuée à la demande de la 
délégation de Hong Kong, Chine. 
 
 Comité de Contratación Pública 
 
 
VERIFICACIÓN DE LOS RESULTADOS DE LAS NEGOCIACIONES 
PREVISTAS EN EL PÁRRAFO 7 DEL ARTÍCULO XXIV DEL 
ACUERDO SOBRE CONTRATACIÓN PÚBLICA 
 
Comunicación de Hong Kong, China
1 
 
 
 La siguiente comunicación, de fecha 30 de enero de 2012, se distribuye a petición de la delegación de Hong Kong, China.  
                                                      
1 In English only./En anglais seulement./En inglés solamente.  GPA/O/V/HKG/1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FROM HONG KONG, CHINA ON THE THIRD REVISED 
OFFER AND AMENDED COMMITMENTS RESULTING FROM A "POLITICAL 
AGREEMENT" REACHED WITH ALL PARTIES ON 15 DECEMBER 2011  
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 
  
 Hong Kong, China appreciates the efforts made by the European Union (EU) in coming up with its third Revised Offer of 14 December  2011 (GPA/O/EEC/2/Rev.3) and the subsequent 
amendments reflected in an addendum (GPA/W /315/Add.3), which contributed to the political 
conclusion of the coverage negotia tions right before the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the World 
Trade Organization.  We would nevertheless like to  seek certain clarifications from the EU on its 
latest offer, and make a few comments on it.  This communication in no way prejudices our right to 
seek further improvements by the submission of a dditional comments and questions in the future. 
_______________ 
 1. Some entities marked by an asterisk or a double asterisk in Annex 1 of the EU's latest offer 
are not applicable to the goods, services and service  providers of some Par ties including Hong Kong, 
China.  We would like to know the EU's considera tion in determining the coverage of its central 
government entities to each Party and its rationale for excluding Hong Kong, China from some of its 
Annex 1 entities.  Since all central government en tities in Hong Kong, China are covered in Annex 1 
of our final offer (GPA/O/HKG/3) and our offer does not have any country-specific exceptions or 
reciprocity provisions, we request the EU to re move those exclusions of its Annex 1 entities 
applicable to Hong Kong, China. 
2. We also note that some existing Annex 1 entiti es in the EU's current commitments are marked 
with a double asterisk in its latest offer (e.g. Mi nistère de l'Environnement:  Administration de 
l'Environnement;  Ministère de la Justice:  Etabli ssements Pénitientiaires;  and Ministère des Travaux 
Publics:  Bâtiments Publics - Ponts et Chaussées of Luxembourg;  and National Security Office of 
Slovakia, amongst others ).  Is our understanding correct that such entities will no longer be applicable 
to Hong Kong, China's suppliers in future?  If so, this change of coverage amounts to backtracking 
from the EU's existing commitments.  We request the EU to revert the coverage of those entities at 
least to that in its existing commitments in respect of Hong Kong, China's suppliers. 
3. Furthermore, some entities in Annex 1 of the EU's existing commitments are not found in its 
latest offer (e.g. Estonian Patent Library, A ssay Office and Communications Board of Estonia;  
Ministère du Budget:  Service Central des Imprimés et  des Fournitures de l'Etat;  and Ministère des 
Communications:  Centre Informatique de l'Etat  of Luxembourg;  and Ombudsman's Office, Post 
Office and Office for the Finance Market of Slovaki a, amongst others).  We would like to know the 
reasons for their removal as we are concerned that the withdrawal  of such entities from the EU's 
existing commitments would amount to backtracki ng and reduce the level of mutually agreed 
coverage provided in the existing GPA.  We ur ge the EU to review these cases and revert the 
coverage of those entities at least to that in its existing commitments. 
__________