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The Department of Health and Social Security, which has hitherto made available briefing on global WHO issues for the UK representa- tive on the Western Pacific Regional Committee, has indicated that it would be willing to continue doing so whatever arrangements are made to cover the seat for the future.
It seems to me, therefore, that we might have found ourselves in a rather difficult position with regard to the occupancy of the UK seat in 1983 and beyond. For this reason, I am particularly grateful to you for the thought that the representation of the interests of Brunei in 1983 and of Pitcairn Island in 1983 and beyond might be met by the participation in the meeting of an individual from our Embassy in Manilla. If your colleagues in the appropriate Departments of the FCO think this is a real possibility, I believe we may well be on the way to resolving the problem. It would allow us to invite the Hong Kong Health Department to nominate an individual to attend the Regional Committee this year as "alternate" to the ODA doctor, and to ask the Embassy to allow someone to sit in on the meeting as well either as a second "alternate" or an "adviser".
alternate" or an "adviser". In 1983 and beyond, the representation might be undertaken by a nominee from Hong Kong accompanied by someone from our Manilla Embassy as "alternate" or "adviser".
I imagine that for 1982 our Chinese colleagues in Hong Kong will be reluctant to nominate someone to attend as an "alternate" (or adviser") to the delegate from the UK, unless the nominee was junior to our ODA delegate (a Senior Medical Officer, ie approximately Diplomatic Grade 4). However I suspect that when Hong Kong takes over the 'lead' the role is likely to be undertaken by either the Director of Medical Services or the Deputy Director of Medical Services - both of whom I believe would be seen as senior to a UK Senior Medical Officer. This might provide difficulties in continuity of representation between 1982 and 1983 from Hong Kong, but I am sure we can find ways of covering this. I will be happy to discuss by telephone with Dr Thong in Hong Kong, with whom I have a slight rapport from earlier meetings and co-operation.
en Thield.
DR IAN T FIELD CM&HSA, ODA
20 July 1982
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