BBC FAR EAST RELAY STATION
ESSENTIAL FACTS
RESTRICTED
Background
1. New capital programme for BBC External Services, which Treasury have approved in principle, provides for construction of Far East
Relay Station between 1985 and 1988 (£6,750,000 allocated project over four-year period). Purpose to improve audibility of BBC transmissions in Far East, but particularly in North East China,
Korea and Japan. Foreign Affairs Committee has recommended that
Hong Kong Relay Station should be brought into use without further
delay.
2. In 1981 BBC in consultation with Hong Kong Government identified
two sites for station, at Che Ha and Tsang Tsui, both in New
Territories. Che Ha site, which was preferred by BBC, was ruled out
by Hong Kong Government on development grounds. Proposal to grant site at Tsang Tsui to BBC was put to Executive Council (EXCO) in July 1982. EXCO agreed in principle that a site should be provided
to BBC at cost to the Hong Kong Government of acquiring the land and with no additional premium; but concerned that station at Tsang Tsui
would be conspicuous from the Chinese mainland and therefore politically provocative.
3. In August 1982 BBC engineers again visited Hong Kong and looked
at alternative sites, including Che Ha, which Hong Kong Government
indicated was now no longer ruled out. Subsequently, however, Working Party set up by Hong Kong Government decided that Che Ha site would not be acceptable, on safety grounds. Tsang Tsui site therefore granted to BBC on 21 June. Announced in Hong Kong on 11
August. So far no adverse political reaction, either from Chinese
or in Hong Kong.
4. BBC are now carrying out further site investigations and making
necessary legal and administrative arrangements in Hong Kong to
execute land grant. They hope that it may be possible to start work
in 1984.
RESTRICTED
Page 75Page 76