afraid that we are not in a position to quote chapter and verse in support of our criticisms of the B.B.C.'s attitude towards Hong Kong as suggested by
Sir John Johnstone. The only incident that I can recall is that referred to at (59) and (61), Flags F and G on File HWB 4/1. But this hardly can be quoted as an exampéí.
5. It so happens that on the day after your minute at (77) was written, a meeting took place between members of the Committee of the Hong Kong Association and B.B.C. officials. The Hong Kong Association representatives included Mr. John Keswick who is also a member of the B.B.C. General Advisory Council. At this meeting, the representatives of the Hong Kong Association raised the whole question of the B.B.C.'s attitude towards Hong Kong and in particular they referred to the programme which was the subject of the Governor's letter at (E/75). The meeting is mentioned in the letter at (78). I met Mr. Collar, the Secretary of the Association, on the 22nd February, and asked him how the meeting had gone. He siad that the atmosphere had been very cordial but that the B.B.C. had made no admissions and that was about all he could tell me about the meeting. I gathered however that the B.B.C. suffers from the fact that the heads of its various programmes are all independent in their own right and there seems to be a general lack of direction so far as policy is concerned. Moreover, Mr. Boxall, Information Officer at the Hong Kong Government Office in London, tells me that the usual B.B.C. representative in Hong Kong (Mr. Anthony Lawrence) who is a well respected person in the Colony, and very knowledgeable in the affairs of Hong Kong, was away from the Colony thoughout the period of the disturbances and the people who took his place did not have his experience or his knowledge of Hong Kong affairs.
6. So much for the programme content. The other head of the Governor's criticism of the transcript at (79) was that of presentation. Her: I suggest that the Governor is fully justified in all the criticisms that he makes under this head. He has almost been squeezed off the scene altogether.
7. I have tried my hand at a draft letter to Lord Hill as a follow up to the Governor's letter. It is a weak draft but I feel that some form of follow up is necessary. Lord Hill knows that the Governor has copied his letter to this office and if nothing happens here it may leave the Governor rather out on a limb.
(A.W. GAMINARA)
February, 1968.