.18/08 '93
11:54
0712708329
HMT INT. FINANCE →→→ ERD
2004/005
ifl.rb/Kalen/19.8.1
File Chinese have
recently
BACKGROUND
1.
once every
The Annual Meetings are held outside Washington three years. The 1994 Annual Meetings will be in Madrid, and the 1997 Annual Meetings are expected to be held in Asia.
The IMF and IBRD Executive Boards were informed on 1 October that Hong Kong was interested in hosting the 1997 Annual Meetings, and that this idea was supported by the UK and China. An informal Fund and Bank technical mission has travelled to Hong Kong to assess the facilities, and found them adequate. They are indeed probably better than in almost any other city in Asia.
2.
Since the last Annual Meetings in September 1992 we have come to an agreement with the Chinese as to how prominent a role the Hong Kong authorities would take at the Annual Meetings. The Chinese have suggested (and Hong Kong have agreed) that at the opening session, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will make a brief opening statement, and introduce the Governor for China. The HKSAR may also host reception for official delegations, but it has been agreed that this would be following, and not overlapping with the reception hosted by the Governor for China.
3.
Some details remain to be settled. In particular, the question of the issue of invitations. Invitations would formally come from the Chinese. The question of whether these should supported by letters from Hong Kong and the UK is currently under
guishaned the discussion. The World Bank and IMF suggestion that UK need fr, a suppating invitation from Hang Kang. have asked representatives in Washington
to raisiour
Saveems an
we
This
be
and China
a
as members of the institution should give financial guarantees could cause difficulties. We are seeking to persuade the institutions that this is not necessary, given the financial strength of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong's legal powers to enter
into <-- such commitments. Finally the question of who should issue the visas and immunities the institutions require is at issue. These questions are being discussed at official level between the UK, China, and the institutions. Our objective is to defer further
with The Chimpftailed consideration of them until after the annual meetings.
Since the Hary
will de
Kony paying for the event Hey should
Le arsociated with
the invitation
autonomy
from He United Kingdom Government in the financial field.