The University of Hong Kong has been chosen by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to jointly establish WTO's Asia-Pacific training center, announced Tsui Lap-Chee, vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong on Tuesday.

With joint efforts of WTO and the University of Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong will offer the regional trade policy courses to government officials in the entire Asia-Pacific region in partnership with the WTO, Tsui said at a press conference held Tuesday.

He said the WTO's designation is the result of a very keen competition between University of Hong Kong and the National University of Singapore -- the other institution on the final shortlist.

The Geneva-based WTO made the decision on Nov. 7.

Tsui said this is the result of the effort of his university to convince the WTO that Hong Kong is the best location for its Asia-Pacific training center in view of its being a leading international financial center whose economy is built on free and fair trade.

Hong Kong is indeed a dynamic and pluralistic community for open discussion and free flow of information and ideas, Tsui said.

(People’s Daily November 12, 2003)