Chief Executive Addresses UN Symposium

At the United Nations Symposium held in Hong Kong on June 11, the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, spoke about Hong Kong’s extensive relationships with various members of the UN family. “The World Bank and IFC, the IMF and the UNHCR have all set up offices here,” he pointed out. As well, Hong Kong participates in various UN agencies and commissions, and has hosted such events as the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in 1997 and the forthcoming Telecom World, set for December 2006.

Under ‘One Country, Two Systems’, Mr Tung said, Hong Kong is able to conduct and develop its relationships with foreign states and regions and international organizations in economic, trade, financial and monetary fields.

China’s steady development has had a significant impact on the Hong Kong economy, said Mr Tung. Hong Kong’s relative affluence has enabled it to improve its citizens’ quality of life. However, he acknowledged the need for a long-term view of the priorities for sustainable development, and outlined his response to this need, in the form of the Council for Sustainable Development.

He told the symposium that, “the Council has been working on a process to engage the community in identifying priorities for Hong Kong in certain key areas.” A consultative document is being prepared on three Pilot Areas: renewable energy, management of solid waste and urban living space.

The second stage of the process will be to canvass community views on how Hong Kong should develop its long-term policies in these areas.

Mr Tung concluded by praising the symposium as “an invaluable opportunity for all of us who care deeply about China’s development and about development in Hong Kong to share our experiences and exchange ideas on the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals.”

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