Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, today.

Speaking at a discussion session, Mr Yau said Hong Kong supports high quality bilateral and regional economic arrangements that add momentum to further trade and investment liberalisation.

"As an economy which champions free and open trade for years, Hong Kong consistently practises what we preach, and has been duly recognised for decades by international institutions as the world's freest economy for 24 years in a row.

“We firmly believe that inclusive economic growth and free and open trade can go hand-in-hand, reinforcing each other.”

Mr Yau said Hong Kong welcomes APEC's progress in implementing its Services Competitiveness Roadmap and the city will continue to work with APEC member economies in this aspect.

Mr Yau also met Papua New Guinea Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade Rimbink Pato, Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade Dato Erywan Yusof, Japan’s State Minister of Economy, Trade & Industry Kosaburo Nishime, and Deputy United States Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish.

They discussed various trade and economic co-operation issues.