TNAG-1294-FCO40-1649-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1984 — Page 26

19.(14)

All replies must be addressed to

Direct of Agriculture and Fisheries

Reay

alins

Perth with gravians

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

Canton Road Government Offices

393 Canton Road

12th floor Kowloon, Hong Kong

Cable Address: AGFISH, HONG KONG

Tel. No.: 3-688111

DEPARTMENT

Our ref.:

Your ref.:

(2) in AF INO 07/7;

RECEIVED IN REG

NT 524/AUG1984

DESH GATIC INDEX

E443

2 4 JUL1984

Dear Mr. Sharpe,

18th y, 1984

Rg18.

Ret Amendments to The Plant Protection

Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region

I refer to your letter of 29th June, 1984 concerning especially the amendment in the Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region to give effect for the introduction of mandatory contributions by Contracting Governments.

As I understand from the proposed amendment, the mandatory contribution would not be a fixed amount. Every two year the Commission would meet to decide on the budget basing on the agreed programme of activities. Each contracting government would then contribute its share of the total budget payable in 2 instalments within the two years. Such being the system the contribution will vary according to the nature and number of activities included and the worthiness would depend on the programme of activities agreed upon. Looking therefore just from Hong Kong's point of view, it is not anticipated that there is any direct benefit from the activities as these will normally evolve around economically important crops e.g. rubber, rice, cocoa, coconut, cotton etc. in the Region. As such I consider it not worth the while for Hong Kong to pay for the mandatory contribution.

Regarding the amendment of the Definition of the Region to include People's Republic of China, I would consider it advantageous to include PRC since she is the biggest agricultural country in this Region.

Yours sincerely,

Jeples

(PK.S. Yip)

for Director of Agriculture & Fisheries

Overseas Development Administration,

(Attn: Mr. G.D. Sharpe)

Eland House,

Stag Place,

London SW1E 5DH,

England.

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