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Note for file
1.
Jvilniana
11.9.82
CONFIDENTIAL
fic..
52
about the
Sir Philip is less guarded
political benefit to
Hong Kongthan we
been
Maseare
Z. PA
Sir Philip Haddon-Cave (Chief Secretary-designate to the Hong Kong Government) called on Mr MacInnes on 10 September. There was a tour d'horizon of our plans for the BBC External Services, in particular the proposal to construct (from 1985/86) a new Far East relay station in Hong Kong. Mr MacInnes outlined out present difficulties with the BBC and said that we would need to overcome the Parliamentary hurdle and get the financial tangle sorted out before we could formally approach the Hong Kong Government for a grant of land, etc.
2.
Sir Philip appeared generally bullish on the prospect of Hong Kong agreeing to some form of assistance for the relay station. He suggested that when we were ready to proceed, we should ask for the site required to be made available at a "nil premium" (ie rent-free), on the basis that what was proposed was a public, as distinct from a commercial, facility. He explained that his Government's present disposition was to help selective foreign enterprises to get established locally, where there were perceived to be some tangible benefits for the colony although the authorities drew a line at providing operating subsidies.
3.
G
The question was to demonstrate the benefit that the proposed relay station would bring to Hong Kong. In Sir Philip's view, an important telling point would be better and more comprehensive reception for Hong Kong's own listerners. On the wider geo-political aspect, he felt that anything which led to a better under- standing of Britain by mainland China would be bound to benefit Hong Kong in the long run. He hoped that in our eventual approach to his Government we would refrain from indulging in speculation about the post-1997 scenario. The Hong Kong
doy'n Government could not allow itself to get bogged by worries about what the situation might or might not be when the New Territories lease ran out it was business as usual, and public infrastructure work (roads, railways, power stations, etc) was proceeding regardless. He also suggested that there would be little advantage in playing the "vote of confidence by HMG in Hong Kong" card,
★ given the small cost of the proposed relay station relative to other projects in
hand in the colony.
!
HER 30611
RECEIVED MYRO. $1
14 SEP 1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
J F Holding
NO
1.G.E.
10 September 1981
1.
Mr MacInnes
2.
3.
Mr Burgess Mr Allison
15/9
to see
fle 1519
Inf. Department".
In scarce. Mr. Willigimon Jua
See tik 300/100
1982
R+R to Mr Edgar
pr.
Mas
11.9
HKGD ✓ FED
1
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with X.
I have reservations in
examining
|
agree with 2
ĥ
Y
We must with the eventual
letter li HK v. carefully
82 11/9
CONFIDENTIAL
draft.