CONFIDENTIAL
visits going (the last was in September 1983 by Mr Stewart).
Plans are in hand for Lord Bellwin to go there some time in
April. A visit, therefore by Mr Luce a little earlier (subject
to confirmation from Mr Gillmore that the dates fit,' which you
are now seeking) would be sensible and would also provide an
opportunity to cultivate his personal links with the Malaysian
Foreign Minister, Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie. Mr Luce has already
met him twice in London, the last time in September 1983, and
even though Ghazali may well also be attending the Brunei cele-
rations, there is unlikely to be much time there for detailed
discussion. The only possible drawback is that
he could fall a victim to a Cabinet reshuffle
which Dr Mahathir is possibly contemplating before the important
UMNO Party Conference in May. But even if this occurred before
the end of February, there would still be advantage in Mr Luce
going in order to meet the new incumbent.
6.
We recommended at an earlier stage that Mr Luce might con-
sider including Burma in the itinerary. The inclusion of a visit
to Hong Kong rules it out on grounds of timing (the airline
schedules for Rangoon would make it impossible to fit in), But I
continue to believe that an FCO Minister ought to visit Burma
before too long. Mr Luce might therefore wish to consider inclu-
ding a visit to Rangoon as part of his planned trip to South East
Asia in September.
بھیجا؟
26 January 1984
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED FOR
2.
CONFIDENTIAL
40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION NO. 27(1), 40(2)
JD N Hartland-Swann
South East Asian Department