According to a HKSAR government release issued here Monday, Tung said this year's meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico, had allowed him to renew contact with other APEC leaders and update them on Hong Kong's latest economic situation.

Tung joined economic leaders in condemning terrorism and pledging to step up action within APEC to minimize the threat of terrorist activity while continuing to ensure the free flow of goods, capital and people crucial to the region's growth.

Tung also briefed APEC business chiefs on how Hong Kong was positioning itself to leverage all of its advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle following China's accession tothe World Trade Organization.

APEC, set up in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among the Asia-Pacific economies and to the need to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community, now groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2002)