E
HEADS OF MISSION CONFERENCE
RESTRICTED
The themes for the Conference might include the following:
(a) Following up the recommendations of the FAC and TMR and taking
account of post objectives, how can the resources available to us
best be used to promote UK interests in the individual countries and
regionally? If we had more resources or more flexibility (e.g. in
diverting BBC vernacular funds) how should we use them?
support?
(b) Should our economic/trade promotion effort in South East Asia
be adjusted as proposed by Mr Pike? Is BOTB providing the right
Is there enough co-operation between our posts in ASEAN
(joint exhibitions, specialist regional advisers, lecturers on technology/design)?
(c) What are the economic and political prospects for the region.
into the 1990s?
(d) Following the ASEAN Summit, what are the prospects for closer
ASEAN economic collaboration and how can we draw benefit from this?
How can we best harness/counter Japanese influence and competition?
(e) What are the prospects for a solution in Cambodia? How will a
solution affect the balance of relationships in the region e.g.
between ASEAN and Vietnam, between the Soviet Union and ASEAN and
between China/Vietnam and China/ASEAN? What are the prospects for
ASEAN political co-operation if the cement of the problem of Cambodia disappears?
(£) How important is the FPDA? What practical support can we continue to give to it once we withdraw from Hong Kong? Should we
be more actively encouraging Brunei to join? Should we take a more
public position on ZOPFAN and SEANWFZ? Or mobilise the EC to take
an interest in them?
(g) Is the EC doing enough in SE Asia (particularly to meet the
Japanese challenge)? Can the UK obtain more mileage from existing
EC activities?
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