SECRET
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6. Mr. Pock reverted to the question of material for the Hong Kong government office in London. It was reported that as the da telegram was prepared by a local employce in Hong Kong, measures to improve it would have to be taken in Hong Kong.
7. Mr. Rivett-Carnac expressed the view that there was no need for anyone to be appointed to replace him. It was, however, essential for someone to be found by April 1968 to act for the Deputy Head of the Information Services, who was responsible for running the special committees in Hong Kong and who would be on leave from May to December, 1968. This was a Hong Kong government appointment and a candidate was available.
8.
In reply to Mr. Littlejohn Cook Mr. Rivett-Carnac stated that ideally three writers were needed to prepare material in English. Since a three year tour of duty was envisaged, this ruled out the possibility of the Foreign Office supplying an officer on temporary secondment. Although the responsibility for the recruitment of two further writers rested with the Hong Kong government working through the Hong Kong office in London, it was agreed that JIFGD and IRD should keep their eyes open for suitable candidates. It was emphasised that the successful candidates would have to be fully briefed on Foreign Office news outlets.
9. Chinese-speaking audiences were largely kept informed by the circulation of Hong Kong newspapers.
This had proved
an impractical nodium for reaching Hong Kong seamen who were catered for by leaflets and other material produced by the Marine Department and given world wide distribution by Hong Kong shipping companies. Hong Kong citizens abroad were in general not yet well informed.
10. In reply to further questions, Mr. Rivett-Carnac said that coverage of events in Hong Kong in the Japanese press had improved considerably, following the two-week visit of a Japanese speaker from the British Embassy in Tokyo who had done much to establish better relations with Japanese correspondents.
11.
Asked by Colonel Wild about the strength or weakness of Hong Kong radio, Mr. Rivett-Carnac said that it operated on medium wave for internal audiences only and was largely a vehicle for Government views. A short wave morse link enabled ships to be reached. A satisfactory volume of material was received from the COI. He added that television had no great influence as it did not reach the majority of the population.
The existing station was government-run and a second commercial station was just starting. Mr. Littlejohn Cook said that he hoped to meet the head of Hong Kong radio, currently in London.
12. Colonel Wild reported that the psychological warfare team had been in Hong Kong for a week. It had obtained financial
support for a six month tour of duty.
Measures
to establish it on a permanent pasis would depend on whether the Hong Kong government wished it to remain or started up a similar unit of its own.
13. It was agreed that:
a)
written comments on the paper "Overseas Confidence in Hong Kong" produced by the Hong Kong government's Overseas Public Relations Coordination Committee should be sent to Mr. Gaminara and copies to other members of the Working Group.
b) JIPGD would write to Mr. Watt, Director of the Hong Kong Government's Information Services, offering further assistance in the recruitment of writers.