TNAG-2449-FCO40-3565-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 235

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ASIA PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM (APPF) Canberra, December 1991

An informal meeting of Parliamentarians from fifteen Asia Pacific countries was held in Canberra, 10-11 December, to consider the formation of a Forum of regional Parliamentarians to encourage dialogue among them and thereby to enhance understanding between the peoples of the region.

The concept of an APPF reflects the dynamism of the region and largely flows from the initiative and drive of the former Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Yasuhiro Nakasone, who chairs the APPF Steering Committee established at a meeting held in Singapore in August 1991.

Participants attended the meeting from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Federated States of Micronesia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the People's Republic of China, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.

The meeting was opened by the Australian Prime Minister, the Hon R J L Hawke AC MP, and was hosted by the Australian Presiding Officers, the President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Kerry Sibraa, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Leo McLeay MP.

Mr McLeay was elected Chairman of the Canberra meeting.

Consensus has been reached among participants:

1.

2

3

That the time has come to establish a Forum for Parliamentarians to exchange views on the range of issues, including those identified at the Singapore meeting, which are of significance to the peoples and the Parliaments of the region.

That an inaugural meeting of the APPF will be held in either Japan. or the Republic of Korea, at a date to be determined by the Steering Committee, in 1992.

That in order to help break down barriers between countries in the region and to reinforce links between their peoples, the Forum will operate by consensus and be governed by a spirit of flexibility to enable it, among other things, to expand its membership and activities, acknowledging the pluralism and diversity of the region.