11. THE TREATMENT OF THE HONG KONG JOURNALISTS IS A SUBJECT WE
A
MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER TAKING UP WITH THE CHINESE AT A HIGHER LEVEL.
OTHER POINTS RAISED BY YOUR TELELETTER TO B M DIXON
(A) A ROOM WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE MINZU HOTEL IN WHICH YOU
WILL BE ABLE TO BRIEF THE PRESS.
(B) PRESS CONFERENCE. WE DO NOT ENVISAGE THE NEED FOR INTERPRETATION. RESIDENT PRESS AND CHINESE PRESS REPRESENTATIVES
ARE FAMILIAR WITH ENGLISH.
(C) INTERVIEWS FOR BRITISH RADIO AND TELEVISION. TIME WILL BE
SHORT AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE, SINCE THE PRIME MINISTER
WILL NEED TO RETURN TO THE GUEST HOUSE BEFORE THE RETURN
BANQUET.
(D) TRANSCRIPTS. THE EMBASSY CAN HANDLE THIS.
(E) GENERAL. THE PRIME MINISTER'S MEETINGS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE. THE CHINESE GENERALLY ALLOW
FOREIGN PRESS TO WAIT WITHIN THE HALL FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE VISITING DIGNITARY, AND TO PHOTOGRAPH THE SHAKING OF HANDS, AND SOMETIMES A PHOTOCALL WITHIN THE CONFERENCE ROOM. THIS
LASTS ONLY ONE OR TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE PRESS ARE USHERED OUT.
"
11
13. YOUR TELELETTER OF 25 AUGUST. AS YOU SAY, THE CHINESE ARE
KEEN ON BILATERALISM''. THEY HAVE NOT YET OBJECTED TO BONNIE ANGELO, AND I HAVE NOT DRAWN THEIR ATTENTION TO THE FACT SHE IS
AMERICAN. HOWEVER THE CHINESE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY OBJECT TO THE PRESENCE OF THE RESIDENT AP REPRESENTATIVES AT, FOR INSTANCE,
PHOTOCALLS IN THE GHP.
14. THE CHINESE ACCEPT THAT THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS A BRITISH
AFFAIR. WE SHALL MERELY INFORM THE CHINESE OF THE NAMES OF
JOURNALISTS WE INVITE. I ENVISAGE INVITING ALL JOURNALISTS FROM
FRIENDLY COUNTRIES. AP WILL THEREFORE ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
PRESS OFFICE PLEASE COPY TO FED, FCO AND NEWS DEPARTMENT, FCO
HONG KONG PLEASE COPY TO GIS, AND APA
J P WATSON
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