MINUTES OF APDF EX CO MEETING HELD ON SUNDAY, 10 OCT 2004 AT
PRINCE PALACE HOTEL, BANGKOK, THAILAND AT 2.00PMPresentMs Judy Wee
Mr JB Munro
Prof Ryosuke Matsui
Mr Monthian Buntan
Prof. Kim Hyung Shik

Mr Graham Smith

Chairperson (from 3.00pm)
Vice Chairperson (In the Chair)
Secretary General
Chair of Working Committee on the Convention
Co-Chair of Working Committee on Research &Development
Representing Dr Joseph Kwok, Chair of Working
Committee on Information
Representing Mr Frank Hall Bentick (Treasure)

Observers
Mr Lim Puay Tiak
Mr Narong Patibatsarakich
Mr D. M. Premadasa
Ms Sue Mackey
Ms Aki Fujiwara
Ms Aiko Akiyama
Ms Kay Nagata
Prof Eiko Okuno
Prof Nareewan Chintakanond

APDF Singapore (Recorder of minutes)
Thai with Disability Foundation
S.L.F.R.D. Sri Lanka
Handicap InternationalHandicap International
UNESCAPUNESCAP
University of Tsukuba, Japan
Vice President, RI (Asia & Pacific)

Ms Deborah Wan

Action by
1. Introduction
1.1 Mr JB Munro welcomed all present to the meeting and thanked
UNESCAP for the courtesy of providing the use of meeting venue.
As Ms Judy Wee was on her way from the airport, it was agreed hewould chair the meeting.
1.2 All present introduced themselves to the meeting.
2. Confirmation of Minutes of Last Ex Co Meeting
2.1 The minutes of the last Ex Co meeting held on 14 Jun 04 wereaccepted having been circulated without amendments.
3. Report on Membership(a) Present status on membership
3.1 Mr Munro informed that although he agreed to write a personalised
JB Munro
letter to each of the RNN NGOs to invite them to be a member ofAPDF, he was yet to do the draft for the Secretariat. He confirmedthat APDF was not limiting its membership to one organisation percountry. Subject to Executive Committee acceptance any NGO witha paid up annual membership fee of US$50 would be accepted. NGOs
were asked to pay 2 years membership fees (i.e. US$100) each time.

Action by(b) Present financial status
3.2 Mr Matsui referred to the financial status report dated 8 Oct 04 whichwere presented on behalf of Mr Frank Hall-Bentic, Treasurer ofAPDF. There was a bank balance of US$3,530. He encouraged
Allprovisional and potential members to confirm their membership status
by paying the membership fees.
4. Report of Working Committees(a) Convention
4.1 Mr Monthian advised that there were beginning signs of delays
towards the end of the 3rd Ad Hoc meeting. There were disputes on
the definition of articles as well as duplication of processes resulting
in unnecessary delays. Monthian added that members were divided
on how soon the Convention would be finalised.
4.2 Mr JB Munro cautioned that with such delays, NGOs may not havethe financial resources to attend future Ad Hoc meetings. Members
also have to cope with changes in delegates, often leading torepetition and re-clarification of concerns.
(b) Conference proposed for Melbourne in November 2005
4.3 Mr Graham Smith circulated the revised conference details from Mr
Frank Hall-Bentic. With a change in the conference venue to Rydges
Hotel in the Central Business District (CBD) in Melbourne, theregistration fees could be reduced to US$150 with early bird rates at
US$100. This would include the use of the Main Room and breakout
rooms for 300 delegates with the provision of arrival tea/coffee,
morning & afternoon teas, coffees & treats, buffet lunches and 2
complimentary welcome cocktails. However, the cost did not include
the banquet dinner and accommodation.
4.4 Mr Graham Smith added that they were negotiating with government
agencies, corporations and philanthropic organisations for possible
sponsorship. To a query, he added that there were ample accessible
hotel rooms in the Melbourne CBD and surrounding areas for use byPWD. As the transportation system in Melbourne was increasingly
made accessible for PWD, there would be no problem in travelling toconference venue...
4.5 As the proposed conference dates were 20 to 24 Nov 2005, Mr
Monthian cautioned that there was a possible conflict with the WorldICT Conference to be held in Tunisia around the same time. Heagreed to check and confirm the dates of the World ICTConference. Ms Kay Nagata also agreed the TWGDC meeting could
be held in 1 day instead of 2 days.
4.6 It was agreed that the Ex Co meet again on Tuesday, 12 Oct 04 tofinalise the APDF Conference 2005 after more details wee available.

MonthianGrahamAll

Action by(c) Information
4.7 Ms Deborah Wan presented the report on Dr Joseph Kwok’s behalf.
She said that as a follow-up to the web-based meeting by APDF Ex
Co, KAMPI of Philippines had agreed to serve as webmaster for
APDF as well as play a more active role in supporting the information Joseph
work of APDF.
Kwok(d) Research & Development
4.8 Prof Kim Hyung Shik requested more time to finalise plans for aregional conference on research and development. Ms Judy Wee said
there was a need to set up an online resource library for APDF.

KimHyungShik(e) Gender
4.8 Ms Aiko Akiyama reported on behalf of Ms Supattraporn Tanatikan.
She informed that an outcome of the Working Committee was in the3 women with disabilities (Arunee, blind lady & Japanese lady??)attended a conference in Japan. Mr JB Munro added that there was a
Pacific countries conference on disability issues concerning women.
(f) Fund Raising & Sponsorship
4.9 There was no report as the Chair of Working Committee was absent.

UNESCAP/APDF Joint Workshop on the Convention (11 & 12Oct 04)
5.1 Ms Kay Nagata circulated the draft report for comments by themeeting. She stressed that the Workshop was a joint effort byUNESCAP and APDF and that she had asked Judy and JB to Chairand Vice Chair the two meeting. Both parties should work towards
the outcome of the report/statement for the Workshop.

GodfreyOoi

5.

6. Any Other Matters(a) 2005 Accessible Tourism Conference Proposal – Eden Fd Taiwan
6.1 There were some concerns raised on the political implications ofTaiwan hosting the conference. Members were in support of theproposal to hold the Accessible Tourism Conference on 5 to 8 May
2005 in Taiwan but were uncertain as to what were the benefits for
APDF to be involved. During the meeting, a tele-conference with Ms
Emma Lee of Eden Social Welfare Foundation was held. Thefollowing concerns were addressed:• Role of APDF – to decide on whether it should be organised
in association / collaboration / consultation with APDF
• Outcome of achieving greater employment of PWD inaccessible tourism throughout the Asia Pacific Region in lineAllAction bywith the aims of the BMF. To be by way of a statement ordeclaration (not policy statement) on accessible tourism insupport of BMF• Judy, Ryo and Joseph accepted a role as volunteer advisers tothe Eden Foundation as it develops its proposal.
6.2 Emma on behalf of Eden Social Welfare Foundation agreed to revert
to Ms Judy Wee on her discussions with colleagues on the above
concerns by Monday, 11 Oct 04. The Ex Co would meet on 12 Oct
04 to finalise its decision on the proposal.
(b) RI Regional Conference 2006
6.3 Prof Nareewan Chintakanond advised that the 13th RI Asia & PacificRegional Conference would be held in Bangkok from 29 Nov to 2Dec 2006. She invited APDF to support the Conference by holding
its Board meeting and/or workshops during the same time.
(c) Pacific Disability Forum6.4 Mr JB Munro advised that the Pacific Disability Forum held its
inaugural meeting in Fiji in July 2004. It had decided to be a standalone constitutional entity. It was addressing operational issues like
where to register the entity etc. JB said this development could be thepioneer for further Disability Forums to be set up in other parts of theAsia Pacific Region as part of the overall APDF. Ryo advised that aletter of welcome had been sent to the PDF.
(d) New Members
6.5 Mr JB Munro formally announced the acceptance of the following
new applications for membership:• Handicaps Welfare Association (Singapore)• Handicap International (France)(e) Next Ex Co Meeting
6.6 The next Ex Co meeting would be held on Tuesday, 12 Oct 2004.
Details would be given by Ms Judy Wee.
7.

Ms Judy Wee thanked all for taking time off their busy schedules toattend the meeting. She encouraged everyone to assist in recruiting
new members to APDF.

8.

There being no other matters, the meeting ended at 5.10pm.

Ex Co

Secretariat