Passage: Plans to step up the European Union's ties to Hong Kong after this transfer to Chinese rule on July 1 will be discussed for the first time at a meeting of EU foreign ministers here on Tuesday. On the table will be a report from the European Commission setting out how the EU should go about defending its extensive interests in the territory -- the bloc's 10th largest trading partner -- and its role in ensuring that Beijing honours its commitments to respect its autonomy.
commitments