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4. There is the associated question of paper input. certainly need to prepare a new paper on British interests in South East Asia and prospects for ASEAN since the existing (1979) paper is now overtaken. in too many ways for it simply to be up-dated. I understand that Miss Marsden in Planning Staff would be willing to take first crack at this. I do not know whether any Far Eastern or Hong Kong - set piece is envisaged.
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As for participation from posts we have approval, in principle, plus money, for participation by our five Heads of Mission in ASEAN capitals, by the other four from my parish and by Tokyo, Seoul and Peking; and by Canberra. I ought simply to record that in 1980 our men from Canberra and to a lesser extend Tokyo found themselves with little to contribute to the general debate. I would favour excluding Canberra in any case. One question that arises is, do we need the Head of Mission himself in all the other cases or would the number two be better? And we ought, of course, to have Mr MacLaren from Hong Kong.
6. A final question that also needs to be decided soon is what other visits Lord Belstead should make in the area before and/or after the Heads of Mission meeting. If the meeting takes place in Bangkok we can be sure that the Thais will not let Lord Belstead escape without calls in Bangkok and a visit to the Cambodia border. This will require, including the Heads of Mission meeting, not less than four days in Thailand. If Lord Belstead is to depart not earlier than 4 December and be back in the UK not later than 19 December I doubt whether it will be practicable to have any more than two or three other visits. I do not know how long he would need to allow for Hong Kong. Depending on this I would want to propose that he visit Burma and/or Brunei - or possibly Singapore and Malaysia.
7. If it would help to sort these various question out perhaps we might get together after my return from leave on 6 September. But if it can all be sorted out on paper so much the better.
P. 111. Newton
27 August 1982
cc:
Mr Giffard
Mr Donald
Mr Walden
PS/PUS
PS/Lord Belstead
For
KF X Burns
South East Asian Department
CONFIDENTIAL