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ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT YET FIRM, VISITS BY MR REES,MINISTER FOR
TRADE, AND BY YOURSELF FOR THE 4TH EC/ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS
MEETING IN BANGKOK TW! FEBRUARY). LORD BELSTEAD MIGHT MENTION HOW
MUCH BRITAIN VALUES SUCH FRIENDLY AND COOPERATIVE CONTACTS WITH
A PARTNER IN THIS CEOGRAPHICAL PEGION WHICH HAS SEEN DUPING THE
PAST 25 YEARS TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC GROWTH DESPITE POLITICAL
PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE WARS IN INDOCHINA. BRITAIN IS PEADY TO
PLAY HER PART IN HELPING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. A REFERENCE
COULD BE INCLUDED HERE TO AID FOR THE CGDK, IF APPROPRIATE.
IN THE LONGER TERM THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A NEED TO MAINTAIN AN
EFFECTIVE AND SUBSTANTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THAILAND AS A MEMBER
OF AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC GROUPING WHICH UPHOLDS, AS DOES BRITAIN,
BASIC UN CHARTER PRINCIPLES. LORD BELSTEAD MICHT CONCLUDE DY
REAFFIRNING TO OUR THAI,AND THROUGH THEM OUR ASEAN FRIENDS
THAT DRITAIN WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IN EC FORA AND OUTSIDE
BASIC ASEAN POLICIES OF INDO-CHINA.
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BEYOND THOSE TWO OCCASIONS, WE ALSO HAVE A POSSIBLE PRESS CONFERENCE, AT WHIGH LORD BELSTEAD MAY WISH TO MAKE AN OPENING
STATEMENT WHICH WOULD COVER THE MORE OBVIOUS ISSUES: E.C.
CAMBODIA AND REFUGECS, HMG'S POLICY ON HONG KONG AND THE FALKLANDS.
THE PRESS CONFERENCE WOULD THEN TAKE THE FORM OF A QUESTION AND
ANSWER SESSION, ASSUMING LORD BELSTEAD AGREES WITH THAT FORMAT.
5. I DOUBT IF IT IS NECESSARY ON THIS OCCASION FOR A STATEPENT
TO BE ISSUED TO THE PRESS ON LORD RELSTEADS ARPIVAL ON 12 DECEMBER.
STAPLES
LIMITED
SEAD
FED
SAD
HKJGD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
MRG IFFARD MR DONALD
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