Permanent Representative of Hong Kong, China to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Stuart Harbinson has been elected chairman of the WTO's General Council for the year 2001, according to a report by the Hong Kong government available Saturday.
The General Council is the WTO's top decision-making body, meeting regularly to carry out the functions of the WTO. It has the authority to act on behalf of the WTO's Ministerial Conference, which only meets once every two years.
The Chairman of the General Council is elected in his personal capacity, and is expected to be impartial in conducting the WTO's business.
"The appointment nevertheless reflects very positively on Hong Kong's standing in the WTO. This has been built up over a period of many years by the cumulative efforts of our trade policy officials both in Geneva and Hong Kong," said a government spokesman.
(People's Daily 02/10/2001)
