TNAG-2024-FCO40-2886-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Commonwealth-countries-1990 — Page 65

Reference:

From: S. R. J. ROBBINS Date: 14 FEBRUARY 1990

cc: Mr Bennett

Mr M Cronin, FCO Commonwealth Coordination Department (Room W108, King Charles Street)

DEPEIDEIT TERRITORITIES' CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMONWEALTH AGRICULTURAL BUREAUX INTERNATIONAL (CABI )

1.

I am minuting to advise you and seek your comments on the proposed new level of contributions by the Dependent Territories to CABI, arising from a comprehensive review, currently being concluded, of the financing of CABI. The draft proposals for CABI's new funding modalities will be completed by the middle of the year and will be put before a Review Conference in July.

2.

In summary there are three components to the new proposals. First, the old system of free quotas of journals, abstracts and other information services will be discarded and a system of discounts introduced as part of a new 'fee-for-service' system; the level of discount might be increased over time, especially for the poorer member countries. Second, the basic membership fee will be substantially reduced. Third, it is proposed that there be a larger, donor-backed component development assistance component in CABI's operations. It is with the second of these components that I am at present concerned.

3.

The proposed new membership fee scale will provide CABI with an income of some £500,000 from that source, compared with the existing £1.8 million. This is intended to reduce the embarrassment to CABI caused by membership arrears, which have been a substantial problem in recent years. A minimum fee of £1,000 has been proposed by CABI, and many of the poorer developing countries will pay this minimum, virtually nominal, fee. I recently discussed with CABI the appropriate new level of Dependent Territories' contributions. I agreed that the new minimum fee of £1,000 would be applicable to Bermuda (cf. £3,212 on the present basis), in view of its small size (notwithstanding its high per capita income) and that an appropriate corresponding level for Hong Kong would be £2,000 on the basis of the previous differential between Bermuda and Hong Kong. However I also argued, and CABI accepted, that £1,000 would be too high for the other Dependent Territories since they are already paying much less. Accordingly I provisionally agreed with CABI the following revised scale:

(current basis for FY 1990/91)

Anguilla

Bermuda

British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands

Falkland Islands

Hong Kong

Montserrat

St Helena

£150

£323

£1,000

£3,212

£100

£159

£150

£323

£150

£323

£2,000

£6,361

£100

£100

£190

£190

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