LF Standen Esq
15 October 1982
4 I understand from Jack Groves, Director of Operational Services Overseas at the CAA, who attended the Regional Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation at Singapore in July, that Dr Kotaite took advantage of that opportunity to sound out a number of those concerned about the Vietnamese proposal. We should be grateful if you could let him know that we have no objection on principle, but are precluded from taking an active part in promoting it by the potential political hazards which I have mentioned. We should nevertheless be most interested to know what conclusions he drew, from his conversations at Singapore about the prospects for agreement on this matter, including particularly whether he thinks the Chinese will make difficulties on account of their claim to the Paracel Islands. If so, what steps is he taking, if any, to resolve the difficulties in advance of the RAN Conference in Singapore, and has he any advice to give us which might help to resolve the matter quietly and amicably?
5 We shall keep you in touch with developments from now on.
I am copying this letter to Gray (MAED, FCO) and Seager (SEAD, FCO), to Robin McLaren (Political Adviser to the Governor of Hong Kong), to Derek Tonkin in Hanoi and to Chanceries in Bangkok and Singapore.
HMG Stevens
You's sincerah
Rally Mother