"Industrial monopoly and local protectionism do exist in some places, which could badly hurt the interests of overseas business people if it goes on after China enters the World Trade Organization (WTO)," said Yu Xiaosong, chairman of the council, who is also chairman of the China Chamber of International Commerce.

He said the State Council had been making efforts to create a better environment for business co-operation.

Yu was speaking at a high-profile 40-member delegation headed by Christopher Cheng, the new chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber Director Eden Woon said he hoped a few business disputes involving Hong Kong business people on the mainland could be settled successfully, so that the chamber could publicize the cases as positive examples to business circles in Hong Kong.

A number of disputes involving patent violation and court convictions not being carried out had occurred in some places on the mainland recently, Woon said.

Yu said his council would duly channel Hong Kong's hopes to relevant government departments, and he believed overseas business people's interests would be protected because the government was taking a tougher stand and aimed to strengthen the law.

The joint commission, established earlier in April between the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the major four Hong Kong chambers of commerce, was being encouraged to take a similar stand as well as exchanging information about government policy and the business situation, said Yu.

The delegation, which includes representatives from the US, French and 12 other countries' chambers of commerce, is said to be the largest and most representational ever organized by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. It was in Beijing to discuss business opportunities following its recent tour to the western region.

(China Daily 06/15/2001)