OCMIAN 1419
CONFIDENTIAL
OO HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
191630Z JAN
GRS 204
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 151
OF 191630Z JANUARY 87
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVE
ሰኑ
400
REGISTRY
20 JAN 1987
PA
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
11419
-
44
See (52
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YOUR TELNO 212: APPOINTMENT OF SIR DAVID WILSON: MEDIA COVERAGE
1. WE UNDERSTAND THAT SIR D WILSON DISCUSSED THIS REPORT BY TELEPHONE WITH THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY AND THAT IT WAS
DECIDED:
(A) EVERY OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE TAKEN IN LONDON AND HONG KONG TO STATE THAT THERE WAS NO TRUTH IN THE SCMP STORY: AND
(B) TO QUOTE IN REFUTATION SIR D WILSON'S STATEMENT AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON 16 JANUARY THAT QUOTE THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB I EVER EXPECT TO DO IS TO SERVE HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE AS GOVERNOR UNQUOTE.
2. AN SCMP STRINGER, WHO DID NOT IDENTIFY HERSELF, CONTACTED THE NEWS DEPARTMENT DUTY OFFICER OVER THE WEEKEND TO SEEK A COMMENT ON THE STORY. HE SPOKE FORCEFULLY AND ON THE RECORD AS AT (A) AND (B) ABOVE. SHE REACTED IN SOME CONFUSION AND IMPLICITLY ADMITTED THAT THE STORY MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE FANCIFUL. NEWS DEPT ARE SEEKING TO CONTACT HEALY TO SPEAK TO HIM IN SIMILAR TERMS. WE HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER ENQUIRIES FROM THE MEDIA.
HOWE
LIMITED
HKD
NEWS.D
PS
PS/MR RENTON MR Gira MORE SIR.D.WILSON
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