GRS 110
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 07110OZ FCO
TELNO 51
OF 071025Z JANUARY 86
Dhuma
7
Mi
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FROM
GOVERNOP
2
YOUR TELNO 13: MR RENTON'S VISIT
1 HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT THE IDEA OF MP RENTON TRYING TO FIT IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE AT 7 A.M. AT THE APPORT ON THE MORNING OF HIS DEPARTURE. THIS WOULD ALLOW AT MOST 30 MINUTES FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE, WHICH WILL BE INSUFFICIENT FOR THE INTEREST THERE WILL BE IN HIS VISIT. THE FACILITIES AT THE AIRPORT ARE ALSO INADEQUATE FOR THE INTEREST HIS PRESS CONFERENCE WILL GENERATE AMONG THE MEDIA. THE PRESS ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO ASK WHY HIS VISIT IS SO SHORT THAN SHOWING ANY UNDERSTANDING OF THE LACK OF FLEXIBILITY. THERE WAS DISGRUNTLEMENT HEPE WHEN LORD YOUNG (QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY) DECLINED TO COMMENT ON NATIONALITY AND SIMILAR ISSUES. THERE WILL BE MORE THAN DISGRUNTLEMENT IF MR RENTON, AS THE MINISTEP NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG AFFALPS, OFFERS THEM ONLY A TRUNCATED PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN HIS VISIT WILL FOLLOW TALKS WITH THE CHINESE IN PEKING AND DEBATES IN THE HOUSE ON THE BURNING ISSUE OF
NATIONALITY.
2. IF MR RENTON'S CONCERN IS TO HAVE ADEQUATE TIME FOR BRIEFING WE COULD FIT THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN AT, SAY, 6.30 IN THE EVENING.
YOUDE
LIMITED
FED
HKD
PROTOCOL D
NEWS D
PS | MR RENTON SIR W HARDING
HKK 02715
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
0 8 JAN 1986
INDLA
CONFIDENTIAL
RY