GR 140
SECRET
SECRET
DESKBY 050838Z
FM HONG KONG Ø50302Z JUL 82
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 717 OF 5 JULY
FOR DONALD FROM GOVERNOR
PM'S VISIT TO CHINA
167
TOR
HKKR 02615
нки
in
from 617
1. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN MY TELNO 711 TO NO. 10 PRESS OFFICE, IN REPLY TO FCO TELNO 261 TO PEKING, ABOUT MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS BEFORE
THE PM'S VISIT TO CHIRA.
GIA
2. APART FROM THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS PUT FORWARD IN THAT TELEGRAM,
THERE ARE GOOD REASONS FOR THE PM AVOIDING INTERVIEWS WITH THE HONG KONG PRESS BEFORE THE VISIT TO CHINA. THE ONLY ISSUE OF SUBSTANCE WHICH THE LOCAL PRESS WOULD WISH TO RAISE IS THE FUTURE. IF THE PM WERE TO BE DRAWN INTO MAKING ANY STATEMENTS ON THAT SUBJECT BEFORE HER MEETING WITH DENG, IT MIGHT INDEED PROMPT THE CHINESE TO STATE THEIR POSITION IN ADVANCE OF THE VISIT, AS HAPPENED
WITH LORD CARRINGTON: AND THIS, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEEKING TO
AVO ID.
3. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO THE PRESS SECRETARY
AT NO. 10 EITHER DIRECT OR THROUGH JOHN COLES THAT WE ARE NOT BEING NIGGARDLY ABOUT THE MEDIA, AND THAT THERE ARE SENSITIVE POLITICAL ISSUES INVOLVED.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HK & GD NEWS D
FED
INFORMATION D
PS
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS
MR GIFFARD
LORD N G LENNOX
MR DONALD
明
Mr. Me Quady of 6/7
Mr. Honen
P.A.
Mr. Donald is seeing
SECRET
Office tow
70
No
Press
ĥ disurs this
$\)