GRS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM CANBERRA 188200 Z FEB 81
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2 OF 18 FEBRUARY
INFO SAVING MELBOURNE (ACTIONED)
YOUR TELNO 3
1.
see &
TOP
нка
301/1
RECEIVED RECASTRY NO. $1
19 FEB 1981
DESK CHACER
INDEX
No
•
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
THE PROPOSED NEW SHAREHOLDERS ARE ALL BLUE CHIP AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES AND CAN BE WARMLY RECOMMENDED. THE MELBOURNE AGE, PUBLISHED BY DAVID SYME, IS PERHAPS AUSTRALIA'S MOST RESPECTED NEWSPAPER. HENRY JONES WERE IN FOOD PROCESSING AND TIMBER BUT HAVE NOW, AS
YOU POINT OUT, DIVERSIFIED INTO COMMUNICATIONS CRA IS MAJORITY OWNED BY RTZ UK AND IS AUSTRALIA'S SECOND-LARGEST COMPANY THOUGH AS FAR AS WE ARE AWARE ITS INTERESTS HAVE NEVER BEEN IN OTHER THAN MINING AND RESOURCES. AS FOR THE NEW SHAREHOLDERS' WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO PROVIDE FURTHER FUNDS OR ACCEPT THAT THE PRESENT LOSS MAKING IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE THIS MUST BE A MATTER OF JUDGEMENT BY YOUR GOVERNMENT TEAM IF AND WHEN THEY TRAVEL TO MELBOURNE TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSALS WITH THE PRINCIPALS. I AGREE THAT IT WOULD HELP FOR THE TEAM TO CALL ON THE STATE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY. THERE IS NO STATE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND I DOUBT THAT A CALL ON THE FEDERAL MINISTER, MR SINCLAIR, WOULD BE NECESSARY.
2.
WE AND THE CONSULATE-GENERAL MELBOURNE STAND READY
TO HELP FURTHER IF SO REQUIRED.
MASO N
MINITAC HK.GO
5P3
CONT
CHIES To
HONG
Come Office
ENTIAL
LONDON
3