CONFIDENTIAL
10.
Likelihood of ASEAN developing effective defence
co-operation dimension?
11. Can we rely on ASEAN countries continuing to be more or
less democratic, more or less Western orientated, more or less
free market economy, absolutely anti-Communist?
12. What future for ASEAN dialogues with Western partners?
Can dialogues survive in present largely disembodied form?
13. Future of EC/ASEAN co-operation? How far does this
complement promotion of UK/ASEAN co-operation; how far do they
ASEAN countries conflict? How long can the more vulnerable/ survive recession
without having to make drastic reductions of their development
plans etc?
14. Are ASEAN countries in practice good trading partners?
Our bad experiences with Indonesia, Malaysia! Are they worth
the trouble/effort?
15. What are the prospects for economic recovery in the wider
East Asian area, including Hong Kong and Japan? What are the
chances of Singapore rivalling Hong Kong as a financial centre?
16. Are we benefitting from revival of interest throughout
South East Asia in acquisition of effective English as an
indispensible tool? Repercussions of withdrawal of overseas
students' fees subsidy? Is BBC loved or loathed?
17.
Should we see Japan as an ally or an enemy in South East
Asia? Should we seek to co-operate more with Japanese commercial
concerns active in the area if we cannot compete effectively with
them? How far is their advantage attributable to their aid
input?
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