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RETURN TO HONG KONG HE MENTIONED IT TO THE PRESS. THERE WAS
WIDESPREAD FACTUAL COVERAGE, AND TWO COMMENTARIES ON THE PROPOSED 24 HOUR RELAY. THE MAIN THEMES OF THESE WERE AS FOLLOWS:
(A) MING PAO (16 MAY)
IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THE SAR GOVERNMENT WOULD PERMIT THE
CO-EXISTENCE OF A FOREIGN 'VOICE''. IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BBC
STATION A PLOT BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO CONINUE TO SUBJECT
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO THE CULTURAL INFLUENCE OF THE BRITISH
THE BBC WISHES TO SET UP A RADIO STATION IN HONG KONG, IT MUST FIRST CONVINCE CHINA OF ITS IMPORTANCE AND UNDERTAKE NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE
SAR GOVERNMENT OR ACT AGAINST CHINA'S INTEREST.
COLONIAL RULE ? IF
(B) HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL (18 MAY)
THE BRITISH HAVE REMAINED SILENT ON WHETHER THE BBC WORLD SERVICE
IN HONG KONG WILL EXTEND BEYOND 1997. BBC MAY BECOME THE MOST
OUTSPOKEN BROADCASTER IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997. IT IS NOT SUBJECT
TO THE SAME DEGREE OF POLITICAL PRESSURE AS OTHER LOCAL
BROADCASTERS WHEN REPORTING ON MORE SENSITIVE ISSUES. THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT IS INCLINED TO MERELY MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS SO AS NOT TO
CREATE AN IMPRESSION OF INTERVENTION, BUT MAY REQUEST THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO CLARIFY THE POSITION THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS
(E.G. UNOFFICIAL MEETINGS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP).
6.
WE HAVE NOT REACTED TO THESE TWO ARTICLES. WE RECOGNISE THAT
IN DUE COURSE WE WILL HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS SUBJECT WITH THE
CHINESE, BUT DO NOT WISH TO DO SO UNTIL THE EARLY 1990'S BY WHICH TIME THEY WILL BE USED TO THE OPERATION OF THE BBC RELAY STATION.
·
7 IF THE QUESTION IS RAISED AT LORD GLENARTHUR'S PRESS
CONFERENCE, WE SUGGEST THAT HE SAY THAT THE ARRANGEMENT IS
STILL BEING NEGOTIATED WITH THE BBC. IF ASKED WHETHER THE SERVICE
WOULD CONTINUE BEYOND 1997, HE COULD SAY THAT THIS WOULD BE A MATTER FOR THE SARG.
WILSON
YYYY
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