TNAG-2911-FCO40-4186-International-support-from-Asia-regarding-the-future-of-Hong-1993 — Page 72

CONFIDENTIAL

142717

MDLIAN 5597

RELATIONSHIP.

8. THE VISIT WAS PARTICULARLY WELL TIMED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE QUESTION OF AIR SERVICES. THIS IS NOW VIRTUALLY THE ONLY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP. ALTHOUGH WE HAD WARNED THEM THAT LAST MONTH'S OFFICIAL TALKS IN LONDON WOULD BE NO MORE THAN A PRELIMINARY EXCHANGE, THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN DISAPPOINTED THAT NO PROGRESS WAS MADE AND HAD BEEN CONTEMPLATING THE DISCUSSION ELSEWHERE OF COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE GONE TO THE UK. MR GOODLAD'S INDICATION THAT WE MIGHT BE PREPARED TO SEEK A COMPROMISE SOLUTION SHOULD HAVE REMOVED THAT THREAT. IN A PRIVATE TALK AFTER THE MINISTER HAD LEFT, ANWAR IBRAHIM CONFIRMED TO ME THAT HE HAD GOT THE MESSAGE AND IS WAITING TO CARRY THE DISCUSSIONS FURTHER. WE NOW NEED TO CONSIDER THE TERMS OF OUR NEXT MOVE. BUT ANWAR SEEMS THE RIGHT INTERLOCUTOR.

9. THIS VISIT, WHICH OVERLAPPED WITH THAT OF THE LORD CHANCELLOR (ABOUT WHICH I SHALL BE REPORTING SEPARATELY) WAS A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE SERIES OF VISITS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS WHICH HELP TO MAINTAIN A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND MALAYSIA. AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO MR GOODLAD FOR UNDERTAKING IT. INTERLOCUTORS MADE IT CLEAR TO HIM THAT HE WOULD BE WELCOME HERE AGAIN AT ANY TIME.

SLATER

I

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

83

MAIN

83

SEAD

AMD

EASD/ODA

ECD (E)

ERD

FED

HKD

JOINT DIRECTORATE

NEWS D

PUSD

PS/MR GOODLAD

PS/PUS

SIR J COLES

MR MASEFIELD

MR HUM

NNNN

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