CONFIDENTIAL
6. Singapore hosted the ASEAN Summit in January. Although
ASEAN has traditionally been regarded as more of a talking
shop than an organisation which achieved anything concrete, the prospects for real progress now seem better than in the past. The primary area of interest is economic relations, and the breaking down of import barriers within the region. This has gained impetus from concerns about the possible affects of the EC single market, and of the North American agreed on action to develop a proposal for the establishment
of a free trade area.
Bilateral Relations, including Defence
7.
Our bilateral relations with Singapore are in excellent
shape. They centre on trade and, in the military field, the
Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). Defence sales have, however, been disappointing, despite the high level of interest traditionally shown by Singapore in British
equipment. The then Defence Secretary, Mr King, paid a
bilateral visit to Singapore on 20-22 September 1991. He
offered to revitalise UK/Singapore defence relations.
was received enthusiastically by Goh Chok Tong, who said that
access to higher technology, based on the UK's Gulf
experience was needed by Singapore. The current Defence
Secretary will visit Singapore in January as part of a tour
including Malaysia and Hong Kong.
This
8. At the Asia Aerospace exhibition in February, attended by Lord Reay, the Singaporeans expressed an interest in purchasing Hawk. BAe are keen to put together an attractive package. Goh told Mr King that he would like to pay an
official visit to the UK in 1992, but this did not
materialise. There is still a possibility of him visiting in
1993.
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CONFIDENTIAL