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media and on selected groups of MPs. The Secretary of State had expressed willingness to brief various editors on Hong Kong. There might also be advantage in persuading UK newspapers and periodicals' leader writers/editors to visit Hong Kong. Sir D Wilson said that the HKG would be very willing to organise this if the FCO/Hong Kong Government Office (HKGO) could identify suitable people.
(Dick Wilson, formerly Editor of the Far East Economic Review might be one.) The HKGO would also be strengthening its own information efforts; and the HKG who are considering engaging a PR company in London, as they did in the USA. The HKG would also be seeing whether better use could be made of Unofficials and other Hong Kong visitors to London.
5. It was agreed that it was essential to start working on all this well in advance of any major Hong Kong related event, rather than merely reacting when Hong Kong was in the news. It was important to ensure that Martin Lee and other critics did not dominate the media in particular the radio - as had happened over the White Paper. Sir D Wilson said that he was examining the idea of speaking on the 'Today' programme. Lord Glenarthur encouraged him to do so.
6. Sir D Wilson noted that although the HKG briefed Hong Kong-based British journalists, they were less susceptible to briefing than the local media. But at present press reporting was not adversely affecting investment decisions.
7. Sir D Wilson said that Lord MacLehose had advised him to call on Lord Cledwyn. Lord Glenarthur welcomed this, but noted the range of views held by the Labour Party. Lord Cledwyn was conspicuously sensible and constructive, but was not likely to be able to influence Commons spokesmen.
8.
Lord Glenarthur raised the prospects of debates in Parliament. June or July, after the draft Basic Law had come out, might be the best timing. The Chinese Government would simply have to understand that Parliament might wish to have a debate. Sir D Wilson agreed. This was equally true for LegCo. When Lu Ping had told him the previous week that a LegCo debate would be inappropriate, he had disagreed strongly. The Chinese would do themselves considerable damage if they tried to make an issue of this matter.
9. It was agreed that the terms of any motion would need careful drafting in both the British Parliament and LegCo; and that it would be preferable for eg Lord Cledwyn to introduce a House of Lords debate, rather than a former Governor such as Lord MacLehose. Sir D Wilson thought a measured debate in the House of Lords would play well in Hong Kong.
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