Following the statement of the Heads of Government of the G7 countries that the Financial Stability Forum should be broadened to include significant financial centres, the Chairman of the Forum has issued invitations to senior representatives from Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and the Netherlands to participate in the Forum's next meeting, which will take place in Paris on 15 September 1999.

The Financial Stability Forum was initiated by the G7 Ministers and Governors in February this year, based on a recommendation by Mr Hans Tietmeyer, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank. The Forum is chaired by Mr Andrew Crockett, General Manager, Bank for International Settlements.