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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JpzcBAC5NrJ6RLQYIp7GvfbDcyW6lwg0kCZ0IM61ysRNqKdsUBwkTDicS1zfh7fB
 qDtNI+LJbIDB5APgyMNukg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001167420-09-000001.txt : 20090115
<SEC-HEADER>0001167420-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090115131107
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001167420-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090115
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090115

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MORGAN STANLEY ASIA PACIFIC FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000919808
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MORGAN STANLEY ASIA PACIFIC FUND
		STREET 2:		522 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6175578742

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MORGAN STANLEY ASIA PACIFIC FUND
		STREET 2:		522 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER ASIA PACIFIC FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000504

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MORGAN STANLEY ASIA PACIFIC FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940505

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MORGAN STANLEY ASIA INVESTMENT FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940316

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REED W ALLEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185919

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-08388
		FILM NUMBER:		09528135

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		303 SOUTH TEMPLE DRIVE
		CITY:			DIBOLL
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75941
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212 296-6988

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		522 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000919808</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MORGAN STANLEY ASIA PACIFIC FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>apf</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185919</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REED W ALLEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>522 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Morgan Stanley Asia-Pacific Fund, Inc</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.2</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2775</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mary E. Mullin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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