GRS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2863
Confidential
TOP COPY @ DIST ?
OF 030955Z SEPTEMBER 86
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
EXCO VISIT TO LONDON: PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
THERE IS CONSIDERABLE INTEREST AMONGST THE HONG KONG MEDIA IN THE VISIT AND SOME SPECULATION THAT MAJOR STRATEGIC DECISIONS AS REGARDS THE FORM AND DIRECTION OF THE 1987 REVIEW ARE IN THE
OFFING.
2. WE UNDERSTAND THAT A NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS, INCLUDING A TVB CREW, ARE PLANNING TO GO TO LONDON. HINDICATIONS ARE THAT THE NUMBER WILL GROW OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THIS, COUPLED WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE LONDON-BASED HK STRINGERS, MEANS THAT A SHIZEABLE HK MEDIA PRESENCE MAY BE EXPECTED DURING THE VISIT.
3. GIVEN THE PRESSURE THAT THE HK PRESS CORPS WILL BE UNDER TO PRODUCE COPY, THE DELEGATION (AND MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS F THEY ARE CAUGHT) WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE SUBJECT TO A FAR AMOUNT OF THE USUAL HOUNDING AND DOOR-STEPPING. WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHETHER SOME SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE MEDIA BUT HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THIS WOULD BE HNAPPROPRIATE. HOWEVER, WE WONDER IF HIT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO ARRANGE A PHOTO CALL AT NO. 10 WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, SHMILAR TO THE ONE DURING UMELCO'S VISHT IN DECEMBER 1984.
4. THE HKGO LONDON WILL, AS USUAL, BE PROVIDING AS MUCH ASSISTANCE AS POSSIBLE AND THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (PAUL BROWN) WILL BE LEANSING WITH NEWS DEPARTMENT. AT THE HONG KONG END THERE WILL BE THE USUAL STAND-UP ARRANGEMENTS AT THE AIRPORT ON THE GOVERNOR'S
DEPARTURE AND RETURN.
YOUDE
HMLNAN 1404
NNNN
MINIMAL
HKO
NEWS.D.
INFO.D. FED
HRK 00615
RECEIVED
- 8 SEP 1986
D. K
INDES
AjB
COPIES TO"
HKGO
LONDON.
Confidential
70)