WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTt
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
Ninth Session Manila 26 September - 2 October 1958 Agenda Item 13 AMENDMENT TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
wp/RC9/6 27 July 1958 ORIGINAL: FRENCH
The Regional Director has the honour to submit to the Regional COIIDIIittee the request received from the Government of Viet Nam relating to an amendment to Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure. This request was submitted in 1957 but in view of the fact that it did not reach the Regional Office until 26 August 1957, too late to include in the supplementary agenda, the Regional Committee decided, in agreement with the representative of the Government of Viet Nam, that the matter should be considered at the ninth session. The comments of the Government of Viet Nam,Which were contained in a letter dated. 12 August 195~are as follows: "Sir, I have the honour to draw your attention to Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific. According to this rule, "a majority of Members shall constitute a quorum" in the conduct of business. According to Rule 1 of the same Rules of Procedure, the term "Member" applies both to Member States and Associate Members. However, according to the "Rights and Obligations of Associate Members and Other Territories in the Regional Organizations" (Basic Documents, 7th Edition, page 2;), Associate Members have no vote in plenary meetings (sessions) of the Regional Committee nor in subdivisions thereof dealing with financial or constitutional matters. On this same question of the conduct of business, Rule 52 of the Rules of Procedure of the World. Health Assembly (Basic Documents, 7th Edition, page 109) says: "A majority of the Members represented. at the session shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at plenary meetings of the Health Assembly" but here, the word. "Members" means Member States (Basic Documents, 7th Edition, page 96). Should the quorum at the Regional Committee be constituted by Member States in full possession of their right (and not by Associate Member States) 1 the word "Members" in Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Committee should be replaced by another expression which could not be misinterpreted (for instance: Member States). / Al though there are •••
WP/RC9/6 page 2
Although there are not yet any Associate Members in the Western Pacific Region, I should be grateful to you if you would kindly place this matter on the supplementary agenda for the eighth session of the Regional Committee. I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Signed:
Secretary of' State for Foreign Affairs"
It is suggested that the point made by the Government of' Viet Nam would. be met if Rule 25 of the Rules of Proced.ure were re.worded as follows: "A majority of the representatives entitled. to vote shall constitute a quorumll •