5
United Kingdom. We have no jurisdiction over her internal affairs but
we are responsible for the conduct of her external affairs and have a
consultative commitment over her defence. Under the Anglo-Brunei
Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, signed on 7 January 1979, Brunei
is due to assume her full international responsibilities as a sovereign
state when the Treaty comes into effect on 31 December 1983. Under
separate exchanges of letters signed at the same time as the Treaty,
the United Kingdom will continue to help Brunei militarily by the
supply of loan service personnel and by advising and training the
armed forces and the police. The present arrangements whereby the
High Court and the Court of Appeal in Brunei is staffed by judges of
the Supreme Court of Hong Kong will continue. During the interim
period before the Treaty becomes effective the UK is helping Brunei
to establish a Brunei diplomatic service. It is Britain's hope that,
on obtaining full independence, Brunei will seek membership of ASEAN,
the Commonwealth and the United Nations, thereby making a practical
contribution to regional stability.
Against this background, what of the present situation in SE Asia?
Obviously the first thing that strikes British observers is the
glaring contrast between the miseries and hardships which the popula-
tions of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos have had to undergo and are
continuing to undergo
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and the economic success which the countries
of ASEAN have been able to achieve over the past decade or so.
Successive British Governments have been amongst the most consistent
supporters of ASEAN since its inception. And we have tried, with a
good deal of success, to encourage a similar enthusiasm amongst our
partners in the European Communities. I would remind you that it was
during our tenure of the Presidency in 1977 that the first EC/ASEAN
/ministerial