First of all, I wish to extend a warm Hong Kong welcome to all of you. Hong Kong, China is deeply honoured to be the host of the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation.

   This week, under this very roof, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance the existing international trading environment; to generate wealth on a broader and deeper scale globally; and, most important of all, to help alleviate the pain of poverty for millions of people living in the poorer parts of this world. I am pleased that Hong Kong, China is today at the centre of this admirable enterprise.

   I cannot emphasise strongly enough the importance of the WTO. It is the only international organization that deals with the rules of trade between economies. It is the rules-based forum at which 149 Member Economies negotiate agreements and resolve disputes over trade issues.

   The WTO is also a powerful force in countering the currents of protectionism and discrimination which are responsible to a large extent for the economic hardship suffered by less wealthy and less well-endowed economies. And, ultimately, the WTO is a key component in the global effort to attain the United Nations' Millennium Goal of Development in tackling the scourge of poverty and hunger.

   Nor can I over-emphasise the importance of the WTO to Hong Kong. As a small, externally-oriented economy with no natural resources other than a magnificent deep water port, Hong Kong has relied on free trade and an entrepreneurial and hardworking population to transform this once sleepy fishing village into an international and regional business hub.

   So I urge you to take some time during the next few days, and after the conference if you can, to look around our great city. You will see why President Bill Clinton once described Hong Kong as Exhibit A in the case for global interdependence and its benefits.

   As a free trader, our support for the multilateral trading system is unconditional. And it goes back a long way. We became a separate Contracting Party to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in 1986. We were a founding Member of the WTO in 1995. Our Membership did not change after reunification in 1997. Indeed, Hong Kong's continued participation in the WTO, and in international trade agreements under the name "Hong Kong, China", is enshrined in the Basic Law, the constitution of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. We treasure the certainty, protection and benefits that the WTO brings to our economy and community.

   We offered to host this Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference because we recognized that it would become a key staging post to the successful conclusion of the multilateral trade negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda. We want to play our part in the collective effort to realize the ambitions of the Round. We regard the WTO Members' acceptance of our offer as a recognition of our contribution to the multilateral trading system, and an acknowledgement of our competence as a world city in handling whatever challenges that may arise from the Ministerial Conference.

   We in Hong Kong are determined to make this important event a success. Secretary John Tsang is committed to creating an environment of comfort for all delegates to conduct negotiations freely, frankly and constructively in the coming days. He has travelled the globe taking part in many of the key meetings which have paved the way for the negotiations that will take place over the next few days.

   Thousands of men and women in our community - civil servants, legislators, District Councillors, NGO members, business leaders, service providers, volunteers, and citizens of Hong Kong - have been working tirelessly since the WTO accepted our offer to host this Conference two years ago. We have a common objective: we want to stage a Conference that is well organized, transparent, inclusive, and above all, efficient. The fruits of this community-wide endeavour are now before you.

   Ladies and gentlemen, we are at an historic juncture. Trade liberalization and economic growth is a permanent goal for all of us as WTO Members. While I acknowledge that in some parts of the world this goal is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity, the negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda must press ahead. We must vigorously defend the integrity and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system.

   This Conference is a golden opportunity for us to demonstrate our collective resolve to improve the lives of peoples throughout the world through progressive trade liberalization. That is what we committed ourselves to do when the Round was launched four years ago in Doha.

   This week, all eyes are on Hong Kong. As host and Chair of the Conference, we will do our utmost to bring about a successful outcome. But we cannot do it ourselves. We are relying on your support and commitment to accomplish this mission. I am sure it will be forthcoming.

参考译文：

          各位部長、總幹事拉米先生、常務理事會主席Mohamed大使、各位代表、各位嘉賓：

　　首先，熱烈歡迎各位蒞臨香港。中國香港得以主辦世界貿易組織第六次部長級會議，深感榮幸。

　　這個星期，我們有一個非常難得的機會，共聚一堂，優化現有的國際貿易環境；為全球各地更廣泛地創造財富；而最重要的，是幫助貧困地區數以億計的人民脫離貧窮。我很高興中國香港今天能牽頭肩負這項崇高任務。

　　世貿對全球極具重要性。世貿是處理全球貿易規則的唯一國際組織，它讓149個成員得以根據既定規則商討貿易協定，解決貿易紛爭。

　　保護主義和貿易歧視，往往導致較貧窮、較弱勢地區陷入經濟困境，而世貿是對抗保護主義和貿易歧視的主要力量。世貿最終更是全球合力消除貧窮飢餓，達至聯合國千年發展目標的力量。

　　世貿對香港的重要性不容置疑。香港地方細小，屬外向型經濟體系，除了擁有一個優良的深水港外，別無其他天然資源。全憑積極發展自由貿易，以及港人的奮勇拼搏、勤勉進取，這個昔日的小漁村，才能蛻變成為今天的國際及區域商貿樞紐。

　　因此，我請各位在未來數天及在會議之後，抽點時間看看我們這個亞洲國際都會，這樣你們便會明白，為甚麼克林頓總統說，香港是全球互補互惠，益處無窮的明證。

　　香港作為貿易自由的先驅，毫無保留地支持多邊貿易制度。早在一九八六年，香港成為關貿總協定的獨立締約地區，一九九五年香港成為世貿創辦成員之一。一九九七年回歸中國後，香港的成員身分絲毫沒有改變，繼續以「中國香港」名義參與世貿事務及簽訂國際貿易協定，這已一一寫入香港特別行政區的憲法《基本法》內。我們十分珍視世貿為香港的經濟和社會帶來的可靠環境、穩妥保護等種種好處。

　　香港申請主辦世貿第六次部長級會議，是因為我們深知，這次會議對多哈發展議程的多邊貿易談判能否取得圓滿結果，起關鍵作用。香港希望能夠盡一分力，與各國合力實現這回合的理想目標。世貿成員接納我們的主辦申請，顯示他們認同香港對多邊貿易制度的貢獻，並確信香港這個國際都會具備能力，能夠處理部長級會議帶來種種的挑戰。

　　全港市民同心合力，決心把這個盛會辦好。曾俊華局長全力創造有利環境，讓各地代表未來數天能夠在自由坦誠的氣氛下，進行有建設性的談判。他跑遍世界各地出席多個重要會議，為未來數天的談判作充分準備。

　　自從世貿兩年前接納香港為這次會議的主辦城市後，香港社會各界人士包括公務員、立法會議員、區議員、非政府組織成員、商界領袖、服務供應商、志願工作者以至普羅市民，就一直努力不懈，矢志達到一個共同目標，就是把會議辦得井然有序，讓會議可以在公開、包容的氣氛下有效率地進行。香港全體市民的努力成果，今天就開始呈現在各位眼前。

　　各位，我們正處於歷史時刻。自由貿易和經濟發展，是我們作為世貿成員的恒常目標。我知道，世界有些地方視這目標為威脅多於機遇，但我們必須全力推進多哈發展議程的貿易談判。我們必須奮力確保多邊貿易制度保持健全及具成效。

　　這個會議提供了一個黃金機會，讓我們一同展示決心，通過進一步的貿易自由化，繼續改善各地人民的生活。這是四年前我們展開多哈回合談判時，立意要達到的工作目標。

　　這個星期，全球注視香港。作為主辦城市，也是會議主席，我們會竭盡所能爭取美滿成果。但香港不能獨力完成這項使命，必須得到各位的支持和承擔才能達到目標。我深信大家會樂於為此給予支持和作出承擔。