TNAG-0365-FCO40-411-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1973 — Page 65

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

24A

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION Eland House Stag Place London SW1E 5DH

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Your reference

UM 53/1

W N Wenban-Smith Esq

Our reference

FAO 223/186/01

UN Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1

Date

18 June 1973

20/6

Dear Wenban-Smith

24TH SESSION, WHO REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC, WELLINGTON NZ, 28/8- 5/9/73

1 Trant in DHSS sent me a copy of his letter A/U1/100 of 27 March to you about the position of representatives from Hong Kong as members of UK Delegations to Conferences in the UN system and expressed the view that, because of the likely presence this year of the Chinese Peoples Republic at . the forthcoming meeting of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacifio, the leader of the UK Delegation should be provided by this Administration. We agree with that view, especially as we now know that there is now no doubt that the Chinese intend to send a Delegate to this Conference.

2 Since there is clearly a need to avoid possible embarrassment to the representative from Hong Kong if he were to attend as the Chief Delegate for the UK, Dr Kilgour of the DHSS (and Chief Medical Adviser designate in ODA) is prepared to attend himself.

3 However, UK representation this year at the WHO Regional Committee for the W Pacifio has already been considered and rejected by our Overseas Travel Meeting of Under-Secretaries as it was not considered to be an ODA responsibility. Moreover, as the reason for representation from London is mainly political in this case we feel that the cost of Dr Kilgour's attendance would properly fall to be met by the F and CO and I shall be glad to learn whether you are in agreement with this.

You should note, however, that there is a likelihood of this expenditure being partially offset (i e as to the return journey) from ODA funds if the opportunity is taken for Dr Kilgour to undertake other business, after the Wellington meeting, as a secondary objective of his travel.

4 Copies of this letter go to R C Trant and to Dr Kilgour in DHSS.

Yours sincerely

postapling

G F H Stapley