./.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/11 
13 December 2005 
 (05-5920) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE DONALD TSANG, GBM 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
HONG KONG, CHINA 
 
 
 First of all, I wish to extend a warm Hong Kong welcome to all of you.  Hong Kong, China is 
deeply honoured to be the host of the Sixth Minist erial Conference of the World Trade Organisation. 
 
 This week, under this very roof, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance the 
existing international trading envir onment; to generate wealth on a br oader and deeper scale globally; 
and, most important of all, to help alleviate th e pain of poverty for millions of people living in the 
poorer parts of this world.  I am pleased that Hong Kong, China is today at the centre of this 
admirable enterprise. 
 
I cannot emphasise strongly enough the importance of the WTO.   It is the only international 
organization that deals with the rules of trade be tween economies.  It is the rules-based forum at 
which 149 Member Economies negotiate agreements  and resolve disputes over trade issues.  
 
 The WTO is also a powerful force in co untering the currents of protectionism and 
discrimination which are responsible to a large ex tent for the economic hardship suffered by less 
wealthy and less well-endowed economies.  And, u ltimately, the WTO is a key component in the 
global effort to attain the United Nations’ Millennium Goal of Development in tackling the scourge of 
poverty and hunger. 
 
Nor can I over-emphasise the importance of the WTO to Hong Kong.  As a small, externally-
oriented economy with no natural resources other th an a magnificent deep water port, Hong Kong has 
relied on free trade and an entrepre neurial and hardworking populati on to transform this once sleepy 
fishing village into an intern ational and regional business hub. 
  So I urge you to take some time during the next few days, and after the conference if you can, 
to look around our great city.  You will see why President Bill Clinton once described Hong Kong as 
Exhibit A in the case for global in terdependence and its benefits. 
 
As a free trader, our support for the multilateral trading system is unconditional.  And it goes 
back a long way.  We became a separate Contrac ting Party to the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade in 1986.  We were a founding Member of th e WTO in 1995.  Our Membership did not change 
after reunification in 1997.  Indeed, Hong Kong’s  continued participation in the WTO, and in 
international trade agreements under the name “Hon g Kong, China”, is enshri ned in the Basic Law, 
the constitution of the Hong Kong Special Admini strative Region.  We treasure the certainty, 
protection and benefits that the WTO brings to our economy and community. 
 
We offered to host this Sixth WTO Minister ial Conference because we recognized that it 
would become a key staging post to the successfu l conclusion of the multilateral trade negotiations 
under the Doha Development Agenda.  We want to play  our part in the collective effort to realize the WT/MIN(05)/11 
Page 2  
 
 ambitions of the Round.  We regard the WTO Memb ers’ acceptance of our offer as a recognition of 
our contribution to the multilateral trading system , and an acknowledgement of our competence as a 
world city in handling whatever challenges th at may arise from the Ministerial Conference. 
  We in Hong Kong are determined to make this important event a success.    Secretary John 
Tsang is committed to creating an environment of comfort for all delegates to conduct negotiations 
freely, frankly and constructively in the coming days.  He has travelled the globe taking part in many of the key meetings which have paved the way for the negotiations that will take place over the next 
few days. 
 
 Thousands of men and women in our community  — civil servants, legislators, District 
Councillors, NGO members, business leaders, service providers, volunteers, and citizens of Hong Kong — have been working tirelessly since the WTO accepted our offer to host this Conference two 
years ago.  We have a common objective: we want to stage a Conference that is well organized, 
transparent, inclusive, and above a ll, efficient.  The fruits of th is community-wide endeavour are now 
before you.   Ladies and gentlemen, we are at an historic  juncture.  Trade liberalization and economic 
growth is a permanent goal for all of us as WTO Me mbers.  While I acknowledge that in some parts 
of the world this goal is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity, the negotiations under the Doha 
Development Agenda must press ahead.  We must vi gorously defend the integrity and effectiveness of 
the multilateral trading system.   This Conference is a golden opportunity for us to demonstrate our collective resolve to 
improve the lives of peoples throughout the world thr ough progressive trade liberalization.  That is 
what we committed ourselves to do when the R ound was launched four years ago in Doha. 
  This week, all eyes are on Hong Kong.  As host and Chair of the Conference, we will do our 
utmost to bring about a successful outcome.  But we cannot do it ourselves.  We are relying on your 
support and commitment to accomplish this mission.  I am sure it will be forthcoming.  
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