HKK 027/2
RECT
DIY
SLA
LOSTRY
7 MAR 1984
VETRY
Linn Taken
FEB
Private Secretary
CONFIDENTIAL
(52
FROM:
P J GOULDEN, NEWS
DATE: 1 MARCH 1984
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PS/Mr Luce
Mr Hum, HKD
Mr Elliott, FED Miss Waghorn,
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Protocol Department
SECRETARY OF STATE'S FAR EAST TOUR: THE PRESS
1. Press interest in this visit is already considerable. Rumours about Japan as well as Hong Kong are circulating pretty freely. We need therefore to decide soon whether to take a press party on the Secretary of State's aircraft.
2. It is arguable that taking a press party may attract some correspondents who would not otherwise cover this visit; and that some of our regular customers are likely to write up the Hong Kong and (if it is included) Peking sections in a way which could be very unhelpful.
3. But I think that the arguments in favour of taking a party greatly outweigh those considerations:
i)
ii)
A number of London-based correspondents will cover the visit anyway, particularly if Peking is added to the itinerary. Not to take them on the Secretary of State's aircraft would merely make them suspicious and hostile.
Taking them with us would make it easier to brief on an 'in house'' basis. We need to educate the diplomatic correspondents about Hong Kong anyway.
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iii) Taking 6 10 journalists with us would help to
reduce the net cost of the trip to the FCO.
4.
I therefore recommend that we should plan to include a press party. HKD, FED and Protocol Department concur.
Polk Counter
Joh
mulden
PJ Goulden
CONFIDENTIAL