BAGUHIMU MENGUNAN MAN SADETULAH
CONFIDENTIAL
whether there had been any reaction from Peking. Mr Goh replied that Peking had been silent on the subject. Secretary of State said
that despite the Chinese statement in response to his announcement of the nationality package there were some indications of disagreement within the Chinese Government. Although some saw it as
a devious British plot there was
there was now a slight improvement in relations with China. Mr Goh said Singapore's relations with China remained good. He referred to China as a country with a large rural
population unaware of world events even to the extent that there are
still those who believe that Mao is alive.
ASEAN
4. Mr Goh in response to Secretary of State's question said that the Indonesians were inward looking and envious of Singapore, but
they were now speaking the same economic language.
Cambodia
5.
Mr Goh said that they wanted to see a comprehensive settlement
in Cambodia. Some countries were moving too quickly. Vietnam had a
great need for aid and trade and it was important to hold off in
this area in order to bring pressure to bear to get the Cambodian
question resolved. He looked for responsible action from the Soviet
Union and China: Vietnam was the aggressor and regarded Cambodia as
a vassal state.
Vietnamese Boat People
6. Secretary of State gave an account of present numbers and the
repatriation process. Mr Goh commented that the Secretary of State was having to deal with a manipulative Vietnamese government
involved in the blackmail business.
Drug Trafficking Legislation
7.
Secretary of State asked when Singapore would be introducing legislation. Mr Goh replied that they hoped to be in a position to
table legislation before the end of the year: drafting the
CONFIDENTIAL
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