(46)
MINISTER OF STATE FOR THE ARMED FORCES
Entir
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
MAIN BUILDING WHITEHALL LONDON SW1A 2HB
Telephone 01-218 2216 (Direct Dialling)
HK P3
НКК 380/2
01-218 9000 (Switchboard)...
RECZANESIM 75
PS 1415 As I tuttun Ps igus 19 Mi Donald
OPSK
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
No
сае
February 1982-
2/3 2/3
Dear Winchoul,
8522/2
NIR.
Hkk 380/3-
1980
You may remember that I wrote to you on the 16th June 1980 enclosing a copy of an extract from Private Eye dated the 23rd Mary 1980 about myself and Hong Kong for which I was, at the time, the responsible Minister at the Foreign Office. As I told you then I consulted Peter Carter-Ruck, a solicitor specialising in defamation, with whom I had been put in touch by Michael Havers. Carter-Ruck advised that the article was clearly defamatory and they did not see how Private Eye could mount an effective defence. He therefore advised that I should take proceedings against Private Eye.
Matters have now moved on to the point where the lawyers expect the case to come on in the first week in March. They are still confident that I will win if the case goes to court, but they expect Private Eye will probably cave in just before the date of the hearing.
The purpose of this letter is to bring you up to date about the position. I am sending copies of this letter to the Prime Minister and Peter Carrington. I have of course kept John Nott informed.
Yours ever
Filen
་
The Rt Hon Michael Jopling MP
PETER BLAKER