Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy of The University of Hong Kong will be organizing a conference on "The Economics of the Doha Round and the World Trade Organization (WTO)" on December 16 and 17, 2005 (Friday and Saturday) at the Council Chamber, 8/F., Meng Wah Complex, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND

The theme of this conference will focus on the economic analysis of critical issues of the Doha Round and the WTO.  The conference will be held in parallel with the sixth Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization in Hong Kong. 

In this conference, we will have academic and analytical papers analyzing several critical challenges facing the Doha Round.  The Doha Round is often called the Development Round and member countries are encouraged to give poorer economies greater latitude in their negotiations. This area of research will generate a lot of interest in the academic literature. 

A second area of research is the economic impact of the agricultural trade liberalization.  A "gateway" issue of the Doha round is the reduction of agricultural export subsidies and agricultural trade liberalization.  How will various forms of agricultural market opening affect the economies of various countries?  Our conference will provide an in-depth examination of this issue.

A third area of focus in our conference is on service trade liberalization.  The Doha Round Framework Agreement states that member countries should also engage in negotiations on NAMA--non-agricultural market access. One area of improved market access is in the area of service trade.  Our conference will feature an economic analysis of the determinants of various service trades and study the impact of such trade liberalization.  Academic analysis of trade in services has been relatively sparse.  This study will fill an important gap.  

There will also be experts who will analyze the experiences and potential changes of antidumping and countervailing rules as well as rules on safeguards.  Other researchers will study quantitatively how trade liberalization can affect poverty in various countries

CONFERENCE PROGRAM  

Please click here for the latest program.

               (as of Dec 12, 2005)

CONFERENCE LOGISTICS

MEETING VENUE

Council Chamber, 8/F., Meng Wah Complex, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.

Click here for the campus map: http://www.hku.hk/maps/index.html#

LOCAL GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Airport > Hotel

Option 1 - Airport Express
This is the quickest way. After passing through the immigration and customs control, you will arrive at the arrival hall. Go straight ahead to the machines/counters of the Airport Express. Purchase a ticket to the Hong Kong Station. A one-way ticket costs HK$100 and a round trip ticket costs $180 (valid for 1 month). Please note that you will need local currency to buy a ticket (foreign exchange service is available at the airport). After arriving at the Hong Kong station, catch a taxi for a short ride to the hotel (approximately HK$20 depending on traffic). Please show the taxi driver the hotel name and address in Chinese.

Option 2 - Hotel Shuttle
Contact the hotel counter at the arrival hall near Exit A (Hall A Counter no. A11 - Sino Hotel Group). The one-way fare is HK$120. The shuttle runs every half an hour from the airport from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight.

Option 3 - Taxi
This is the most expensive option.  The ride will cost around HK$350 and will take around 30 minutes depending on traffic conditions.  Please show the taxi driver the hotel name and address in Chinese.

For more details regarding airport transportation, please view: http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/aguide/transport.html

Hotel > Meeting Venue

On both meeting days, the hotel has arranged for a shuttle bus to transfer conference participants to the meeting venue at The University of Hong Kong. Please ask the hotel for details of exact time and location of pick-up upon checking in.

HOTEL INFORMATION

We have reserved a block of rooms at Island Pacific Hotel, located at 152 Connaught Road West, Hong Kong (phone: +852 2131-1188; fax: +852 2131-1212), a short distance from the campus of The University of Hong Kong. For more details on hotel facilities, please view http://www.islandpacifichotel.com.hk/.

A standard room for up to 3 nights (from December 15 to 18, 2005) will be charged to The Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy. Charges for additional night(s) and incidentals, such as phone calls or room service will be charged to your personal account and payment settled upon check-out. If you would like us to book extra nights for you, please let us know and we will be happy to arrange. The daily room rate for additional night(s) is HK$580 nett (inclusive of 10% service charge, 3% government tax; rooms with breakfast is HK$650 nett per night).

PARTICIPANT LOGISTICS FORM

To ensure that your meeting/reimbursement logistics are handled efficiently, please fill in the Participant Logistic Form and return it to Ms. Cecilia Man as soon as possible.

Download Participant Logistics Form here.

CONTACT

Ms. Cecilia Man, Event Coordinator (email: cman@hiebs.hku.hk)

Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy

The University of Hong Kong

Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2548 9300

Fax: (852) 2548 3223

Email: info@hiebs.hku.hk

Website: www.hiebs.hku.hk