"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,'' 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 cooperation.

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.

He said overseas business people who had acquired permanent residency in Hong Kong were likely to extend their time doing business in Hong Kong before they had to renew their legal documents, currently every six months.

Yu was replying to an inquiry from a representative from the Italian chamber of commerce in Hong Kong, who was also in the visiting delegation.

Yu said he had already personally asked officials in the Ministry of Public Security, as he had heard similar requests from Hong Kong friends before. The answer was that it was not impossible.

"I believe the Chinese Government will help business people from all countries to be integrated into part of the Hong Kong society,'' said Christopher Cheng.

The delegation, which includes representatives from the US, Britain, 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.

During their two-day visit in Beijing, the delegation will meet ministers and directors of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the State Development Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance.

The delegation was in the capital to discuss business opportunities following the large-scale Hong Kong delegation's recent tour to the western region.

They also wanted to learn the ropes and hear tips from Chinese Government officials about how to do business in the mainland after China joins the WTO.

(China Daily June 15, 2001)