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The Hong Kong government's participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) services negotiations has always proceeded in a transparent manner, Director-General of Trade & Industry Raymond Young said Sunday.

Apart from providing updates on the negotiations' latest development, the government has conducted public consultations on Hong Kong's objectives and priorities in the negotiations, he said.

He refuted allegations made by some groups on the government's "blackbox" operation with respect to its participation in the WTO services negotiations as unfounded.

He said Hong Kong's existing commitments on trade in services made under the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services are public information, which has been uploaded on the WTO website and the department's website.

Two public consultation exercises have been conducted so far, one from May to June 2002 and the other from February to March this year, Young said.

About 400 organizations, including the chambers of commerce, major trade and industrial organizations in respective sectors, academic institutions and civil society groups, as well as the general public have been invited to express their views on Hong Kong's objectives and priorities in the negotiations.

Bureau and departments responsible for the different services sectors have been consulted, and where appropriate, they have also sought views from the major shareholders in their respective sectors.

Young said Hong Kong's requests, offers as well as negotiating positions in the current round of services negotiations, have been drawn up on the basis of submissions received on both occasions.

He said WTO members are free to decide whether or not to open up certain services, and if so, the extent of liberalization and timetable, and whether to make commitments on the relevant services.

In the case of Hong Kong, none of the existing commitments or offers will necessitate a change to the existing regime or its current level of openness, he added.

The services negotiations are an ongoing process and will only be concluded upon the completion of the current round of WTO negotiations, Young said. The government will take interested parties' views into account when reviewing Hong Kong's negotiating positions in the services negotiations.