and
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 26010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 1339
OF 241515Z JUNE 89
AND TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
HKB 026/20.
31
044426
MDHOAN 3825
ра
FROM HEAD OF NEWS DEPARTMENT
VISIT OF SECRETARY OF STATE:
2
4 JULY: PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
1.
FROM THE MEDIA POINT OF VIEW THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGING
VISIT. THE INTEREST IN THIS VISIT AMONG THE BRITISH PRESS IS INTENSE. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THE LOBBY AND DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENTS IN MIFT WILL BE TRAVELLING OUT FROM THE UK. THERE
MAY BE OTHERS.
2. WHITEHEAD WILL MAKE IMMEDIATE CONTACT WITH GIS ON ARRIVAL AND WILL BE IN TOUCH ALSO WITH POLITICAL ADVISER AND MR HEAP. WE
SHALL WANT TO TREAT THE HONG KONG AND BRITISH PRESS (PLUS THOSE FROM THE US AND OTHER THIRD COUNTRIES) EVEN-HANDEDLY, BUT THE BRITISH JOURNALISTS WILL BE ACCUSTOMED TO PREFERENTIAL
UNATTRIBUTABLE BRIEFINGS AND ATTENTIVE MEDIA CHOREOGRAPHY WHICH WILL NEED CAREFUL PREPARATION.
3=
MY TASK WILL BE TO KEEP THE BRITISH PRESS (VISITING AND
LOCAL) AS UP TO DATE AS POSSIBLE ON WHAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE
IS DOING, SEEING, SAYING AND HEARING. I SHALL THEREFORE NEED TO KEEP CLOSE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT ALL TIMES AND FOR ALL EVENTS. I SHALL RELY ON WHITEHEAD AND GIS TO LIAISE WITH AND ORGANISE THE BRITISH PRESS AND TO ADVISE ON HOW BEST TO INFLUENCE
THE HONG KONG PRESS. THE FOLLOWING POINTS WILL BE OF PARTICULAR CONCERN:
A) ARRIVAL STATEMENT. THE SECRETARY OF STATE LIKES TO MAKE SUCH
A STATEMENT TO CAMERA SINCE IT HELPS TO SET THE TONE OF HIS VISIT FROM THE START. USUALLY HE DOES NOT (NOT) TAKE QUESTIONS, BUT WE SHALL BE OPEN TO ADVICE. THE HANDLING OF THIS MAY BE COMPLICATED IF THERE ARE DEMONSTRATIONS OR THE HANDING OVER OF A PETITION,
BUT IN PRINCIPLE THE ARRIVAL SHOULD BE OPEN TO ALL THE BRITISH
AND LOCAL PRESS, INCLUDING ANY WHO HAVE ARRIVED ON THE SAME PLANE. THE COI OFFICER TRAVELLING WITH US WILL RECORD THE STATEMENT.
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