RESTRICTED
151761
MDLIA 6343
THE BURMESE TO THE JULY MINISTERIAL MEETING WOULD HELP: THERE WERE DIVISIONS IN ASEAN ON THIS. MR GOODLAD SAID WE HOPED THAT EXTERNAL PRESSURE AND ECONOMIC NECESSITY WOULD BRING CHANGE.
17.
LIM BOON HENG RECALLED HIS VISIT TO THE UK IN FEBRUARY 1992 WITH A GROUP OF SENIOR SINGAPOREAN BUSINESSMEN AND THE RECENT MISSION TO SINGAPORE LED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOTB. BRITISH AND SINGAPOREAN FIRMS COULD WORK TOGETHER TO EXPLOIT REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
COMMENT
18. THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL VISIT (THE FIRST BY AN FCO MINISTER IN TWO YEARS) WHICH ACHIEVED THE OBJECTIVES OF CEMENTING OUR GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH SINGAPORE AND MAKING CLEAR THE UK'S POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL INTEREST IN THE REGION. THAT SO MANY SINGAPOREAN MINISTERS WERE KEEN TO SEE MR GOODLAD ILLUSTRATES THEIR INTEREST IN OUR THINKING ACROSS THE RANGE OF ISSUES, NOTWITHSTANDING THEIR PERCEPTION, WHICH WE MUST KEEP BATTLING THAT BRITAIN'S IMPORTANCE IS DECLINING.
19. NOT SURPRISINGLY, HONG KONG LOOMED LARGE IN MR GOODLAD'S CALLS. TAKING THEIR LEAD FROM LKY, MANY SINGAPOREANS ARE, AND WILL REMAIN, SCEPTICAL ABOUT OUR POLICY. NONETHELESS, MR GOODLAD'S VISIT WAS A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT OUR CASE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.
FORD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
41
SEAD
HKD
FED
NEWS D
JOINT DIRECTORATE
DISTRIBUTION
42
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR MASEFIELD
ADDITIONAL
1
Dri icterz ताज ST
лінінші
PAGE RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.