Miss Stowe J.I.P.G.D.
Copy to Mr. Gaminara
SECRET
Hong Kong and West Indies Dept. Commonwealth Office.
with/
88
We spoke today about the relations between the B.B.C. and the Hong Kong government, referred to in this letter from Mr. Ashworth. I had heard rumblings off stage about the dissatisfaction of the Hong Kong goverment about certain B.B.C. programmes which he confiras. Hugh Howse of the Far Eastern Service had also told me that he had attended a lunch recently given by Mr. John Keswick with representatives from other B.B.C. services to discuss the corporations's coverage of events in Hong Kong which I presume arose out of the Governor's representations to Lord Hill.
2.
I think you will agree from what we have seen and heard of the handling of foreign correspondents in Hong Kong that Mr. Ashworth's criticisms are probably justified. The Hong Kong government has shown itself to be over-sensitive about the criticisms of the system in Hong Kong and slightly naive about the function of a journalist, believing that he ought to write what he is told and not what he sees.
3. I do not think that the Far Eastern Service is at fault here, it is T.V. and Home Services which have annoyed the Hong Kong government. If you think an approach should be made to the B.B.C. it might be better to do it through your contacts with the latter's services rather than with lugh Howse. My own feeling is that the lunch given by Mr. Keswick is probably sufficient, but Mr. Gaminara to whom I am sending a copy of my minute, may know more about the results of this lunch.
HWA 13/22
(C. Wilson) 4 April, 1968.
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