GRS 600
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
New & Externci
CONFIDENTIAL
4001
VEGISTRY
JAN 1937
CER
**
REGISTRY Action Taken
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 005
OF 020955Z JANUARY 87
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
FOR WILSON AUSS, FROM ACTING GOVERNOR
POSSIBLE MAJOR MEDIA EVENTS DURING JANUARY 1987
WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW GOVERNOR LIKELY TO BE MADE IN JANUARY, YOU MAY FIND IT USEFUL TO HAVE AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT ISSUES ARE LIKELY TO BE THE MAIN PREOCCUPATION OF THE MEDIA IN HONG KONG DURING THAT MONTH.
2. PROVIDED IT DOES NOT LEAK BEFORE WE ARE READY, THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON KOWLOON WALLED CITY COULD BE VERY POSITIVE MAJOR NEWS.
3.
A NUMBER OF SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY, WITH CONSEQUENTIAL STAFF CHANGES IN BOTH THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS. THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE MEDIA SPECULATION AND EDITORIAL COMMENT ON THIS SUBJECT IN RECENT WEEKS AND WIDE PRESS COVERAGE IS EXPECTED WHEN THE FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE, WITH POSSIBLE CRITICISM OVER LACK OF CONTINUITY IN SECRETARY LEVEL POSTS.
4.
AS REGARDS FUTURE-RELATED ISSUES, WE ARE HOPING TO GO PUBLIC ON THE DETAILS OF NEW TERRITORIES LEASES EXTENSION BILL IN LATE JANUARY. THIS WOULD BE WELCOME NEWS. THE BLOC SPECIAL GROUP ON CPG/SAR RELATIONSHIP WILL BE MEETING IN GUANGZHOU IN JANUARY. THIS MAY COMMAND SOME PRESS FOOTAGE FOR A DAY OR TWO BUT SHOULD NOT AROUSE MAJOR PUBLIC CONCERN. THE PRESS MIGHT REVERT TO THE PREVIOUS REPORT ON THE GARRISON WITHDRAWAL/POLICE EXPANSION PLAN. BUT EVEN IF IT DID, THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WOULD NOT BE MUCH INTERESTED UNLESS THERE WERE CORROBORATING AND UNHELPFUL CHINESE COMMENTS.
5. LURKING IN THE BACKGROUND WILL BE THE CONTINUOUS DEBATE AND SPECULATION ON THE CONTENT OF THE GREEN PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. BUT THESE ARE UNLIKELY TO CLIMAX OR HAVE ANY PARTICULAR IMPETUS IN JANUARY.
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