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8. The High Commissioner has recommended that the Secretary of State address the Institute of Policy Studies, whose Chairman is Professor Tommy Koh, Singapore's
Ambassador-at-Large and former UN Ambassador (in which capacity he played a key role in the run-up to the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio). The speech would be public and attended by the press. The High Commissioner considers that a wide-ranging address underlining our global interests would be better received than one with an exclusively Britain-in-Asia focus. There is considerable interest in British thinking on issues such as the changing international security environment (a theme which has increasing resonance in the Asia-Pacific region); the role of the UN (touching, perhaps, in particular on our role in the Security Council); the further development of the EC and its relationship with the rest of the world, and our role in keeping the Community outward-looking. Given the Secretary of State's attendance at the G7 Summit immediately following his visit to Singapore, our thinking on world economic issues and ending the recession would also be appropriate. Britain's role in Singapore and rebuttal of charges of neglect needs to be covered (there are some in Singapore, including Lee Kuan Yew, who believe that Singapore should concentrate more on Germany and France at our expense). Interest in Hong Kong is high. We have already alerted the Planners about drafting a speech; but you may want to give them further guidance.
9. An interview with the "Straits Times" and (separately) Singapore television would be very useful if these could be fitted in. Some contact with the staff of the British High Commission, and a visit to the British Council's (profitable) ELT operation would be much appreciated.
seadOS/SUBS/sofs.sgpvis
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