TNAG-1151-FCO40-1431-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-United-Nations-1983 — Page 69

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Mrs G Tucker (UND.FCO)

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cc Mr K FY Burns (SEAD, 'FCO)

Mr B Clift (HKGD, FCO) Mr JC Edwards (WIAD, FCO) Mr M Elliott (FED, FCO) Mr KG Fry (UND(A), ODA) Mr J Hallowell (IRD, DHSS) Dr P A Hyzler (Med.ÍH, DHSS) Dr J A Nicholson (A & OD, ODA) Mr TJ Wilshire (HPD, ODA)

UK SEAT ON THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION

(22) +

You have asked if I could let you have a note of the present position as I see it, following the minuting that took place earlier this year.

There seems to have been general sympathy with the desire of the Hong Kong Health Department to resume its active participation in the work of this Committee which it had originally suspended for

'political' reasons when the People's Republic of China was admitted to the Organisation some years ago.

The Diplomatic Wing of the FCO is clearly concerned that any arrange- ments undertaken in respect of the UK seat should reflect our direct responsibility for Brunei until about the end of 1983, and that thereafter we will still continue to have a responsibility for Pitcairn Island.

On the Overseas Development Administration side there is a practical problem, in that it has provided the occupant of the UK seat for many years, but the present incumbent (an Adviser whose geographic responsibilities include the Pacific) is retiring in November 1982, and following reorganisation and adjustments inside the ODA his successor is likely to be geographically responsible for the Americas as well as the Pacific and parts of Asia. This responsibility will include a representational role for dependent territories in the Caribbean on the Regional Committee for the Americas - which usually meets at the same time as the Western Pacific Regional Committee and other Regional Committees. it is unlikely that the ODA will be able to provide a doctor to attend the meetings of the Western Pacific Regional Committee after 1982, even if it was considered financially acceptable to continue to fly someone out to the Philippines in such a role bearing in mind the dramatic reduction in the number of territories represented in future (with Hong Kong representing itself).

Thus,

1.

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