Revision of the terms of reference of the Commission (E/ESCAP/1118)

1. The Commission may recall that Macau was admitted as an associate member of the Commission in 1991. In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macau, signed at Beijing on 13 April 1987, the Government of the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macau with effect from 20 December 1999. Upon this date, Macau, as part of the territory of the People's Republic of China, will become a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the People's Republic of China will be responsible for the foreign affairs of the Macau Special Administrative Region.

2. The Government of the People's Republic of China has proposed that Macau continue its status as an associate member of ESCAP, under the name "Macau, China", effective as from 20 December 1999. The Commission may wish to consider this proposal and make its recommendation to the Economic and Social Council accordingly. The attention of the Commission is drawn to the following draft resolution to this effect:

Draft resolution to be submitted to the Economic and Social Council for action on the change of the name of Macau in paragraphs 2 and 4 of the terms of reference of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

"The Economic and Social Council,

"Noting that the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific has recommended that the name "Macau" in paragraphs 2 and 4 of its terms of reference be changed to "Macau, China", effective as from 20 December 1999, with the objective of enabling Macau to continue thereafter as an associate member of the Commission,

"Decides to amend paragraphs 2 and 4 of the terms of reference of the Commission accordingly."