htp.p('<select name="first_select">');
for x in (select category_code, category_value from category_lk order by category_code)
loop
  -- the option to pre-select
  if x.category_code=category_sel then 
   htp.p('<option value="'||x.category_code||'" selected>'||x.category_value||'</option>');
  else 
   htp.p('<option value="'||x.category_code||'"> '||x.category_value||'</option>');
  end if;
end loop;
htp.p('</select>');