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Mr. Adams
Mr. Statham
M: Bind to see or.
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Mr. Ganhara!
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3-9-70
David Sellers will be writhing to me about this
BBC TV: "24 Hours" plan for programmes on the effect of British entry on the Commonwealth.
A Mr. Alex Finer telephoned to say that he was doing research for a programme or series of programmes on this subject to be shown at an undefinite date in the future. I told him where he could find background material on the Yaoundé Convention and recommended to him the supplement on Australia recently done by the Economist. He suggested and I agreed that it would be useful if he got in touch again to check his facts with us in the course of preparing his research. I pointed out that trade patterns were changing anyway and some Commonwealth countries had already decided to come to arrangements with the Community. He said that he would ensure that the information he gave to the producer of the programme would be balanced, with the implication that he could not do more than this. "24 Hours" is likely to be hostile rather than in favour of British membership.
2. Mr. Kinnear, Hong Kong Department, told me that Mr. Sellers of the Hong Kong Office had also had an approach from Mr. Finer. Mr. Sellers then telephoned me and explained that he had been given rather a different story and asked for an immediate statement of the effect of British entry upon Hong Kong. With Mr. Kinnear's agreement I suggested to Mr. Sellers that he should first find out what "24 Hours" were proposing to do and when, and that he should give the FCO an advance sight of any statement that the Hong Kong Office proposed to make about the effects of British entry. I suggested and Mr. Sellers agreed that the Governor of Hong Kong would agree - that the less said to "24 Hours" the better.
13. Mr. Kinnear is happy that Hong Kong Department
should be responsible for ensuring that the Hong Kong Office consult the FCO before saying anything to "24 Hours"
MRMorland
(M. R. Morland)
European Integration Department
2 September, 1970.
copied to:
Mr. Robinson
Mr. Kinnear- Hong Kong Dept.
Mr. Budd ECIU
J
Mr. Beetham - News Dept.