CE meets Director-General of WTO
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (December 5) met with the visiting Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. The Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, and the Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Aaron Liu, also attended the meeting.
Mr Lee welcomed Dr Okonjo-Iweala's visit to Hong Kong. He said that Hong Kong, China is a founding member of the WTO and remains firmly committed to the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. Mr Lee said that he is encouraged by the commendation by WTO members during the Trade Policy Review meeting in December last year, which recognised Hong Kong, China's commitment to promoting global trade liberalisation and the city's measures to enhance business facilitation, as well as the city's continuous efforts to reinforce its role as an international investment and trading hub.
Noting that Hong Kong has been actively seeking early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and signed a Free Trade Agreement with Peru last month, Mr Lee said that these moves will sustain and reinforce Hong Kong's distinctive advantages as a global city and the important role it plays in offering high value-added supply chain management services for international trade. He also said that multilateral trading system remains at the core of Hong Kong's trade policy, and that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to expand the city's global economic and trade networks through various means including forging free trade agreements.
CE meets Director-General of WTO Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKSARG responds to reauthorization of the so-called Sanctions Provisions under HKHRDA incorporated in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (December 26) strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects US' reauthorization of the so-called Sanctions Provisions under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (HKHRDA) incorporated in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
A spokesman for the Government said, "In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, it is each and every sovereign state's inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and it is also an international practice. With at least 21 pieces of laws safeguarding national security, the US has exposed its double standards by pointing the finger at the HKSAR's legal system and enforcement mechanism to safeguard national security."
"The Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) also clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. The offences endangering national security stipulated by the related Ordinance target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity, aiming at addressing, combating, deterring and preventing acts and activities of endangering national security. It targets only an extremely small minority of people without affecting the basic rights and freedoms lawfully enjoyed by Hong Kong residents."
He said, "The US openly clamour for so-called 'sanctions' with an aim to intimidate HKSAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security. The HKSAR Government strongly condemns its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all. The HKSAR despises the so-called 'sanctions' and will not be intimidated by such a despicable behaviour. The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security."
The HKSAR Government has been enforcing the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) fully and vigorously to fulfil our international obligations. We have long been maintaining an effective mechanism for implementing the resolutions of the UNSC. That includes denying entry of vessels designated by the UNSC as well as suspicious vessels, keeping a close watch on and inspecting suspicious Hong Kong-based companies to prevent them from participating in activities evading UNSC sanctions. At the same time, the HKSAR Government has been implementing a comprehensive and robust control regime over the import and export of strategic commodities and maintaining active participation in the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty through the Central People's Government. The effectiveness of our work has been well respected and recognised by our trading partners and internationally.
The US has substantial economic interest in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, it registered a trade surplus of about US$270 billion with Hong Kong. Currently, some 1 390 US companies operate in Hong Kong. If the US insists on its acts, it will ultimately undermine the mutually beneficial relations between Hong Kong and the US, harming the interests of the US and its companies.
The spokesman reiterated that foreign governments and legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR.
