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THUK. 026/21

GR 140

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG Ø20855Z SEP 81

TO PRIORITY F C O

RESTRICTED

TELEGRAM NUMBER 796 OF 2 SEPTEMBER

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

VISIT OF MR. JOHN NOTT

Ms

£10.9.

༨༠.༥.

WE HAVE LEARNT FROM JSPRS THAT MR. NOTT IS NOT INTENDING TO GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE OR INTERVIEWS HERE. IN OUR OPINION THIS WOULD AT LEAST BE LIABLE TO BE MISUNDERSTOOD, HE HOLDS A SENIOR PORTFOLIO, IS KNOWN HERE FROM PREVIOUS VISIT. HIS VIEWS ON THE DCA, PATROL BOATS AND EVEN ''SPEARHEAD'' ARE LIKELY TO BE SOUGHT BY THE MEDIA TO SAY NOTHING OF WIDER INTERESTS SUCH AS NATIONALITY.

2. IT MIGHT PROVE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE IF HE GIVES NO PRESS CONFERENCE. WE SUGGEST HE GIVES ONE, AT THE END OF HIS STAY. MOREOVER, ON ANY TRIPS TO E.G. THE BORDER, WE HOPE THAT FACILITIES FOR LOCAL JOURNALISTS CAN BE PROVIDED AS WELL AS FOR THE OVERSEAS PARTY.

3. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD MAKE THESE POINTS TO MOD ON OUR BEHALF. GRATEFUL TOO FOR NAMES OF JOURNALISTS ACCOMPANYING MR. NOTT, SO THAT WE CAN PLAN ADDITIONAL BRIEFINGS IF APPROPRIATE.

See (20

MACLEHOSE

MINIMAL

HK&GD

NEWS D.

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED

COPIES TO:-

HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE LONDON

RESTRICTED

cisfired & MOD, awaiting response.

Bu Y/uk

چھا

4.9

noted paro

819

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