TNAG-2473-FCO40-3600-Asian-Development-Bank-liabilities-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 81

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Reference

MAR 102/1

From: MRS J C RADICE Extn: 0260

Date: 20 MARCH 1992

CC IDG 9294/338/147/001

сс

Mh Furness

Tet serb

Mr R Bunten

Hong Kong Department

Room WH305

FCO

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: 25TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

HONG KONG, 4-6 MAY 1992

1.

As you already know from my minute of 16 March about briefing, Mr Freeman and I will be attending, this meeting.

2. It is customary for the Governor representing the country which is hosting the Annual Meeting to be appointed as Chairman of the Board of Governors with effect from immediately after the previous Annual Meeting. In accordance with this procedure, Mr Piers Jacobs was appointed Chairman of the Board of Governors with effect from immediately after the 1991 Annual Meeting in Vancouver. Mr NW H Macleod, Mr Jacobs' successor, is now Chairman of the Board of Governors and in that capacity will chair the Procedures Committee at the Annual Meeting in Hong Kong (a formality) and give a short opening and closing address, in addition to his Governor's statement to the meeting.

3.

Hong Kong's membership of the Asian Development Bank is governed by Article 3.3 of the Agreement Establishing the Asian Development Bank, which reads in part as follows: "In the case of associate members of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (now ESCAP) which are not responsible for the conduct of their international relations, application for membership in the Bank shall be presented by the member of the Bank responsible for the international relations of the applicant and accompanied by an undertaking by such member that, until the applicant itself assumes such responsibility, the member shall be responsible for all obligations that may be incurred by the applicant by reason of admission to membership in the Bank and enjoyment of the benefits of such membership. You will be aware from my exchanges with Mr Stone earlier this year resting with my manuscript minute of 11 February and from ODA telegram no.1442 of 13 February to Hong Kong that we

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