PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
LA.
FM FCO 121615Z
CONFIDENTIAL
Pavey
169
hite
(NEWS)
1972
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY PEKING TELNO 829 OF 12 OCTOBER/AND TO ROUTINE HONG KONG.
PARAGRAPH 5 OF MY TEL. NO. 801 OF 19 OCTOBER.
FOLLOWING FROM NEWS DEPARTMENT.
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT: PRESS ARRANGEMENTS,
1. WE HAVE BEEN GIVING THOUGHT TO ARRANGEMENTS FOR CORRESPONDENTS.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON SUGGESTIONS IN FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS.
2. DRIEFING, THE PROPOSED MEETING WITH CORRESPONDENTS ON 2 NOVEMBER
SHOULD NOT, IN OUR VIEW, BE AN ON-THE-RECORD OCCASION, BOTH I
IN
DEFERENCE TO CHINESE SENSITIVITIES AND BECAUSE THERE IS TO BE A
FULL-DRESS PRESS CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG ON 3 NOVEMBER.
3. THE BRIEFING COULD BE OPENED (BY INVITATION) TO REPRESENTATIVES
OF OTHER WESTERN AGENCIES AND TORONTO GLOBE AND MAIL CORRESPONDENT,
AS WAS DONE DURING MR ROYLE'S VISIT.
4. WE SHOULD LIKE IF POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL INFORMAL
BRIEFING BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE ACCOMPANYING AND RESIDENT -
BRITISH CORRESPONDENTS AT SOME STAGE AND PREFERABLY NOT TOO LATE IN
THE PROGRAMME.
5. PROGRAMME. WE ASSUME THAT JOURNALISTS WILL BE EXPECTED BY THE CHINESE TO COVER THE OFFICIAL PROGRAMME WHERE APPROPRIATE (ALTHOUGH
THE JOURNALISTS THEMSELVES MAY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS). THIS OBVIOUSLY
WOULD EXCLUDE TALKS AND INCLUDE VISITS. WOULD IT ALSO EXCLUDE
CHINESE BANQUET AND/OR OTHER ENTERTAINMENT?
16.
CONFIDENTIAL