<
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIVATE SECRETARY
Entin
ор
ре
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE
FROM:
DATE :
Sandal. Semp
R D CLIFT
15 JULY 1983
163)
encs
cc: PS/MR LUCE (with encs
PS/PUS
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR GOULDEN
NEWS DEPT.
MR THOMSON FED
/ 1.
52
✓
I attach copies of a Guardian article of 14 July by John
Gittings and a Reuter report of the same date. The former claimed
to include comments by a British Diplomat to the Los Angeles Times
correspondent in Peking concerning British policy in the talks of
Hong Kong, while the latter referred to information on the talks
allegedly received from 'sources in Hong Kong close to the talks'.
Our telegrams to Peking and Hong Kong concerning these stories and
(63 the reply telegrams are also attached (FCO telnos 444 to Peking
154 643 to Hong Kong, Peking telnos 674 and 684 and Hong Kong tel 1018).
We are sending a further telegram to Peking making clear the point about
the involvement of the Los Angeles Times correspondent.
2.
(159)
>
161)
Both Sir P Cradock and Sir E Youde have their staff on a very
tight rein, as regards maintaining confidentiality about the content of the talks. I am sure that we can have complete confidence on this point.
3.
Regrettably, with the lack of information available to the media,
there is an increasing tendency on the part of some journalists to
embroider rumours or even attribute stories untruthfully. I fear
there could well be further examples of this in the coming weeks.
15 July 1983
MKKOAO/2
RECEIVED IN BECASTYY NO. 51 19 JUL 1983
1.
Jan 2017
R D Clift
Hong Kong Department
CONFIDENTIAL