ifl.rb/Oct 93/22.10.1
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Motion, need to be answered before the liability is
undertaken.
As the liability would be incurred in respect of IMF and World
Bank meetings, the Minute would be jointly signed by Treasury and
ODA as the latter have financial responsibility for the World
Bank. [The ODA is consulting Baroness Chalker?]
11. An example of such a Minute is at Annex
In this case we
would in the text need to make clear that the liability arises out
of the special circumstances of Hong Kong not being a Member of
the Institutions in its Own right rather than any general
requirement for the UK
to stand behind Hong Kong's financial
assurances, something we must be very careful to avoid.
Conclusion
12. It would be better to avoid both the liability and the
Parliamentary procedure if we can. The
Parliamentary procedure,
in particular, could provide an opportunity for members to raise
more general concerns about Hong Kong.
And we
back to back
Hong Kong
13. We will therefore press the Fund/Bank for changes.
may be able to avoid the liability with some
assurances from and deposit of funds in the UK by the
authorities. But the prospects are slim and if
prepared to take on the liability and the reporting requirements,
we need to tell the Fund/Bank now.
we are not
14. Hong Kong is still very keen to hold the meetings, as are
Foreign Office Ministers.
Both could if necessary
nece
accept the