[asia-apec 1095] New Zealand Press Assn on APEC
Gatt Watchdog
gattwd at corso.ch.planet.gen.nz
Wed Apr 28 07:37:40 JST 1999
APEC-GUNS
PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL ALLOWING BODYGUARDS TO CARRY GUNS AT APEC
Wellington, April 27 NZPA - Parliament tonight passed legislation
allowing bodyguards of foreign leaders to carry weapons during the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit meeting in Auckland
in September.
The Arms Amendment Bill passed its third reading 107-12 with only
the Alliance voting against it.
Police Minister Clem Simich said it would apply only during the
Apec meeting.
``We have a heavy responsibility while they are here. We are
recognising that responsibility and sending a message that New
Zealand is not a soft target,'' he said.
He said the security operation for the meeting, due to be
attended by 21 leaders including United States President Bill
Clinton, would be the most wide-ranging ever seen in New Zealand.
He assured Parliament that under the bill foreign bodyguards
would work closely with the police and would not have diplomatic
immunity if any weapon was misused.
Labour supported the bill and MP Rick Barker said it was a
sensible measure to deal with a unique security situation.
``It will not usurp the authority of the New Zealand police, it
won't allow Rambo types to run around Auckland,'' he said.
Alliance MP Matt Robson repeated his previous objections to the
bill, saying it did not apply only to presidents and prime ministers
but to foreign dignitaries and their families.
``It permits a very wide range of people to have armed bodyguards
... it seems that demands from world leaders have been placed upon
us,'' he said.
Mr Robson argued that the police and New Zealand's military
services had the ability to protect foreign leaders.
NZPA PAR pw
27/04/99 20-05NZ
APEC-CHCH-N/L
APEC DELEGATES SEEK MORE GOVT SUPPORT
Christchurch, April 27 NZPA - Apec delegates have criticised the
hands-off approach to business of countries including New Zealand,
calling for more support from the region's governments.
While steering clear of any mention of handouts, business people
in forums at Apec meetings in Christchurch today asked for central
funding for start-up capital, education and training programmes, and
common agreements on taxation, electronic commerce, and banking.
New Zealand Government ministers at the conference have pushed
the theme of creating an environment for business to help itself.
Former trade minister Philip Burdon today echoed earlier
statements by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and Trade and Enterprise
Minister Max Bradford ruling out Government assistance or protection
for business.
``Preferential treatment can distort the marketplace and promote
inefficient business,'' Mr Burdon said.
Singapore-based consultant Laina (crrct) Greene said while big
business often had the ear of government, their smaller colleagues
were the backbone of the Asia-Pacific economy.
The current business environment was not a level playing field
and nations such as New Zealand and Singapore often confused
regulation with support, she said. A middle-road approach was needed
rather than extreme hands-off approach of some governments.
Her comments were endorsed by delegates in other forums. Wendy
Pye, chairwoman of the Apec education forum, said delegates wanted
more involvement between business and education institutions and a
say in curriculum development.
A forum on electronic commerce heard that businesses in Asia were
concerned they may be hit by New Zealand GST. One delegate said her
company was faced with paying tax in three countries. She called for
common tax laws, while another called for the abolition of GST.
Internet fraud also concerned delegates, who spoke of safe havens
for internet hackers if all Apec countries did not agree to a common
approach to preventing it.
Business delegates later made recommendations to the ministers of
about 18 nations present at the conference including an action plan
on trade barriers by next year to be posted on the internet. The
plan includes:
* Consistent accounting, tax, and banking systems; and
* Common agreements on internet fraud, security, and dispute
resolution.
Speaking on behalf of the ministers, United States deputy
secretary of commerce Robert Mallett said there was a great deal of
consensus at an inter-government level about the problems smaller
business faced. The issue was how to address them.
He asked ministers to avoid the temptation to ``walk the walk and
talk the talk, then go back to our own economies and do precisely
what it was we were doing before''.
Mr Bradford said most countries, including New Zealand, now
recognised the importance of small business, and the necessity to do
more to create a business-friendly environment.
How this was achieved would be up to the leaders' summit later
this year, although a joint communique from the Christchurch
meetings would be issued tomorrow, Mr Bradford said.
NZPA CHP reg
27/04/99 20-57NZ
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