TNAG-1313-FCO40-1688-Future-of-Hong-Kong-views-and-involvement-of-Australia--Cana-1984 — Page 47

CONFIDENTIAL

Review of Developments and Progress in Follow-up Action since the 1983 Heads of Government Meeting

It is customary under this item for Senior Officials to review developments in those areas which were of particular interest and concern to Commonwealth Heads of Government at their Meeting the previous year, including consideration of follow-up action taken by the Secretariat. A background paper prepared by the Secretariat in this context will be circulated shortly.

Quite apart from other topics, Senior Officials may see particular value in exchanging views on two subjects highlighted by Commonwealth leaders in New Delhi, namely, the special needs of small states and the urgent need for international action in resolving common economic problems. The range of work undertaken by the Secretariat in both areas since New Delhi will be set out in the background paper referred to above.

2.

Commonwealth Response to Community

the Challenges Facing the International

Against the background of a review of the global issues considered by Commonwealth leaders in New Delhi and looking ahead to next year's Meeting in the Bahamas, Senior Officials will be well placed to reflect on some of the

major challenges facing the world community, for example, East-West confrontation, the impasse in North-South negotiations, threats to the rule of international law, the further erosion of humanitarian norms and values, stagnation in developmental aid - all of which threaten international order and well being. In his recent annual report to the General Assembly, the United Nations Secretary-General posed the crucial question:

"Why has there been a retreat from internationalism and multilateralism at a time when actual developments both in relation to world peace and to the world economy would seem to demand their strengthening? We need to consider this question carefully ..."

Making the most of its facility for informal and unattributed exchanges, the Barbados Meeting will permit a reflective discussion on how the Commonwealth might contribute not only to ending such a retreat but also to sustaining hope, and practical co-operation, in the meantime.

3. Heads of Government Meeting 1985: Dates, Arrangements and Agenda

Arrangements for the 1985 Meeting in the Bahamas are in train. Senior Officials may wish at Barbados to confirm the consensus on dates which I expect to have evolved by then, and to seek to identify some of the issues that may be raised in Nassau.

Other Matters

4.

(i)

Secretariat Budget: Arrears of Contribution

The Finance Committee at its last meeting decided that SOM should consider the

the problem of arrears of Secretariat Budget contributions which have persisted over the past five years. A memorandum on this will be circulated by the Secretariat.

2

CONFIDENTIAL