Tough negotiator: Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology John Tsang says it was worthwhile for Hong Kong to host the WTO's Sixth Ministerial Conference to enhance its reputation as Asia's world city.

Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology John Tsang says it was worthwhile for Hong Kong to host the WTO's Sixth Ministerial Conference to enhance its reputation as Asia's world city.

Speaking at a luncheon organised by the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre, Mr Tsang said while Hong Kong recognised the risks associated with hosting the conference, the city was determined to discharge its responsibilities as a world citizen in support of the multilateral trading system.

"We were determined to demonstrate our competence as Asia's World City by tackling whatever challenges the conference threw up, both inside and outside the venue.

"I believe that our police force showed what a thoroughly professional organisation they are, while our long experience as trade negotiators helped us get results inside the negotiating chamber.

"We have also enhanced our reputation as a great world city. I believe Hong Kong has demonstrated a maturity and a concern for others that will be remembered and recognised well beyond the afterglow of this very successful conference," Mr Tsang said.

HK declaration seen as positive

He recapped that during the conference period, for more than 100 hours, the leading world trade diplomats and statespeople were locked in tense, difficult and occasionally volatile and acrimonious negotiations.

Members eventually agreed to a phased withdrawal of agricultural export subsides by 2013; detailed a package of duty-free, quota-free measures for 32 of the poorest countries; and made commitments to help 10 million African cotton growers by eliminating subsidies to their own cotton-growing industry by the end of this year.