TNAG-1147-FCO40-1427-UK-policy-towards-South-East-Asia--including-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 124

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PP JAKARTA

PP KUALA LUMPUR

PP MANILA

PP SINGAPOE

PP RANGOON

PP VIENTIANE

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FM FCO 03L800Z DECEMBER 82

-TO PRIORITY BANGKOK

TELEGRAM NUMBER 448 OF 3 DECEMBER

AND PRIORITY TO JAKARTA,KUALA LUMPUR, MANILA, SINGAPORE, BRUNEI, RANGOON, HANOI, VIENTIANE, HONG KONG,(FOR MCLAREN)

BTC HONG KONG, TOKYO (FOR WHITEHEAD)

HEADS OF MISSION CONFERENCE, BANGKOK 13/14 DECEMBER

1.. MY TWO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TELEGRAMS CONTAIN RESPECTIVELY

THE AGENDA FOR THIS CONFERENCE, AS APPROVED BY LORD BELSTEAD, AND

A LIST OF QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A FOCUS

FOR PARTICIPANTS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE VARIOUS

AGENDA ITEM.

2. LORD BELSTEAD HAS TAKEN NOTE OF THE COMMENTS RECEIVED FROM

POSTS (MANILA TELNO 252, SINGAPORE TELNO 271, BANGKOK TELNO 632 AND HONG KONG TELNO 1397). HE REALISES THAT THERE WILL BE MUCH

INTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG'. HE IS NOT LIKELY TO HAVE

ANY 'INSIDE INFORMATION' TO IMPART, BUT HE WILL BE READY TO GIVE

A SHORT INDICATION OF THE PRESENT POSITION AND OF HIS OWN IMPRESS-

IONS.

HE WILL ALSO NATURALLY BE GLAD TO HEAR FROM PARTICIPANTS MORE OF

THE NATURE OF LOCAL INTEREST IN THE QUESTION AND ANY NEED THEY MAY FEEL FOR INSTRUCTIONS/GUIDANCE.

3.

LORD BELSTEAD BELIEVES THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE CONFERENCE SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON ITS CENTRAL THEME OF BRITISH INTERESTS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA AND HOW TO PROMOTE THEM. HE UNDER-

STANDS THE FEELING EXPRESSED BY SOME REGIONAL HEADS OF MISSION

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