CODE 18-77
Mr Clift
(HKGD
K 246)
Reference...
CONFIDEN 3061
ST
KIZINIO W DeKTRY NO. 51 - 4 JUN 1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
BBC RELAY STATION IN HONG KONG
PA
No Mas
10
REGISTRY
Rech to me
Action Takes
10010160
£5.6.
In para 1 of his minute to PUS
29 May Sir E. Youde said he had asked Departments to consider where else this relay station might be. located if not in Hong Kong, eg Brunei. We have consulted CED, who think that a station as far South as Brunei would be no better than the existing relay station at Singapore. The aim is to reach audiences in Northern China, Korea and Japan (in that order of need). Thus, from a purely geographical viewpoint, only territories belonging to Japan, the Philippines or Korea seem feasible. I should welcome Departments views on the political feasibility of these alternatives.
See 13
2. Finance. The position on finance is now a little clearer. The Cabinet OD Committee on 1 June approved the ideal capital programme in principle, but this was subject to the Secretary of State trying to obtain further economies from the BBC on the current expenditure side, eg vernacular language services.. Thus we have to surmount this latter hurdle before the proposed finance for building a new Far East relay station between 1985 and 1989 can be assured. Moreover, since this latter period is outside the current PESC period (up to 1984/85), the emphasis must be on the words "in principle" in the OD decision.
Kethaches.
K G MacInnes
Inf Dept G 3/3 233-4337
3 June 1981
Copies to:
Mr Burns, SEAD Mr McLaren, FED Mr Harris, CED
Mr. Williamos
This wants to he
mentioned in the
letter to Sir M. Mac/phoe / Sir P Gradsch
CONFIDENTIAL
দ