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ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL PRACTICE.
4. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL NOT NORMALLY MAKE FORMAL
STATEMENTS TO THE PRESS OUTSIDE THE ARRANGED PRESS CONFERENCE.
BUT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO BE WARNED IN ADVANCE OF ANY
OCCASIONS ON THE PROGRAMME WHEN HE IS LIKELY TO BE DOORSTEPPED.
5. THE ACCOMPANYING PRESS WILL WISH TO TRAVEL WITH THE
SECRETARY OF STATE ON VISITS OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL. THEY WOULD
ALSO HOPE TO BE INCLUDED IN ANY RECEPTIONS WHERE THIS IS
APPROPRIATE (THOUGH THIS SHOULD NOT BE ARRANGED IF THERE IS
ANY RISK OF OFFENDING LOCAL SUSCEPTIBILITIES). THEY WOULD
CERTAINLY VALUE AN INFORMAL BRIEFING ON THE HOST COUNTRY BY
THE EMBASSY FAIRLY EARLY AFTER ARRIVAL, IF THIS COULD BE
ARRANGED. BUT IT SHOULD PREFERABLY NOT CLASH WITH ANY BRIEFING
FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE, SINCE I OUGHT TO ATTEND BOTH.
6. WE DO NOT USUALLY PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES FOR
THE ACCOMPANYNG PRESS. I ASSUME THAT THERE WILL BE ADEQUATE
FACILITIES IN THE HOTEL WHICH THEY USE IN SEOUL AND TOKYO.
BUT PEKING MAY WISH TO SUGGEST THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD PROVIDE TELEX AND TELEPHONE FACILITIES IN A MINI PRESS
CENTRE AT THE HOTEL. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MFA PROVIDED
THESE FACILITIES AND INTERPRETERS DURING THE PM'S TRIP AND THAT THIS PROVED EXTREMELY USEFUL. THE JOURNALISTS WILL BE
CARRYING ITU CARDS. (WE PROVIDE COMPARABLE FACILITIES ON A
RECIPROCAL BASIS WHEN THE PRESS ACCOMPANY VIPS TO LONDON.)
7. I REALISE THAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFERENT IN HONG KONG.
BUT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF JOHNSTON (GIS) WOULD BEAR IN
MIND PARAS 2 5 ABOVE.
HOWE
reties!
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