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several attempts to put our version of events on the record: the reactions suggested that this came as something novel to most of my interlocutors. Lee Kuan Yew argued that Hong Kong was unused to, unprepared for and uninterested in democracy. I replied that this was probably true of Singapore at the time of independence to which Lee Kuan Yew retorted that it still was! I concluded that there is scope for us to be much more proactive in arguing our case on Hong Kong in other countries in the region.
11. As with Malaysia, our objective in Singapore must be to build on the existing and real advantages of goodwill, language and educational links to expand our trade and investment and enhance our other regional interests. would neglect Singapore at our peril. It is our largest trading partner in the region and carries an economic clout well beyond its political importance. Above all, it is an instinctive free trader, sharing our heritage. The Singaporeans are eager to develop UK/Singaporean joint ventures in the region, for example in China and Vietnam.
12. The Singaporeans are realistic about visits. They do not expect to see British Ministers often. But they start to feel neglected if the gaps between visits are too great. If you were able to pay a short visit at some stage, this would make a tremendous impression. Your role in chairing the ASEAN Ministerial meeting in Manila last October is highly rated in Singapore. A visit here by Goh Chok Tong could also pay dividends. He should be a priority target for Spring 1994, when he plans a visit to Europe (he will not now be travelling in Europe either side of CHOGM in October).
Postscript
13.
I am very grateful to Duncan Slater and Peter Ford and their staffs for arranging such excellent programmes for me. Duncan and Candida Slater proved impressingly adept at coping with the overlap between my visit and the Lord Chancellor's.
6.J. Done
G J DOREY
(Approved by the Minister and signed in his absence by Greg Dorey, Private Secretary)
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