THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1976
1976 COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS' MEETING
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HONG KONG WILL BE THE HOST TO MINISTERS OF FINANCE AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICIALS FROM UP TO 39 INDEPENDENT NATIONS AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES OF THE COMMONWEALTH, DURING THE WEEK BEGINNING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27.
THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS WILL GO TO MANILA FOR THE ANNUAL WORLD BANK/INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND MEETING.
IN A MESSAGE OF WELCOME, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OF HONG KONG, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID, +1 AM DELIGHTED THAT HONG KONG HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THE VENUE FOR THE 1976 MEETING OF COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS,
+THE CHOICE IS A MARK OF RECOGNITION OF HONG KONG'S GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND IMPORTANCE AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE AT THE CROSSROADS OF ASIA.
+THERE IS MUCH OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO DISCUSS. BUT I ALSO HOPE THAT MINISTERS AND DELEGATES WILL FIND TIME TO RELAX NOW AND THEN FROM THEIR DELIBERATIONS, AND TO EXPLORE THE MANY FACETS OF THIS INTERNATIONAL CITY.+
IN HONG KONG THERE WILL BE THREE PREPARATORY MEETINGS FOR SENIOR FINANCE OFFICIALS, ON SEPTEMBER 27, 28 AND 29 (SEE ENCLOSED PROGRAMME) FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING CEREMONY.
THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 IN THE PALACE ROOM OF THE HONG KONG CONVENTION CENTRE IN CAUSEWAY BAY. MINISTERS AND HEADS OF DELEGATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED INSIDE THE ENTRANCE BY THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY-GENERAL, MR. S.3. RAMPHAL, AND MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL BE THE LAST TO BE RECEIVED, JUST BEFORE THE START OF THE CEREMONY. ALTOGETHER, THERE WILL BE UP TO 800 GUESTS IN THE PALACE ROOM, INCLUDING ALL THE TOP FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATORS AND CENTRAL BANK GOVERNORS OF THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES REPRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE.
THESE WILL INCLUDE MR. DENIS HEALEY, BRITAIN'S CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER MR. PHILIP LYNCH, TREASURER OF AUSTRALIA MR. R.D. MULDOON, NEW ZEALAND'S PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE, AND MR. FELIX BANDARANA IKE, MINISTER OF FINANCE FOR SRI LANKA,
WHILE THE GUESTS ARE ASSEMBLING, THE BAND OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE WILL PLAY.
THE CEREMONY WILL BEGIN WITH A STATEMENT FROM MR. 3.5. RAMPHAL, WHO WILL INTRODUCE THE GOVERNOR. AFTER THE GOVERNOR HAS CFFICIALLY OPENED THE CONFERENCE, THERE WILL BE A REPLY EY A COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTER. THEN WILL FOLLOW THE ELECTION OF THE CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN, AND HIS SPEECH.
THE FIRST SUBSTANTIVE SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE WILL OPEN LATER THE SAME MORNING.
/PROVIZIONAL