Private Secretary
RESTRICTED
From:
R A Burns
News Department
16 June 1989
Date:
CC:
Mr McLaren
Miss Spencer
Head, HKD
Miss Waghorn,
VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HONG KONG:
STAFF
2
Protocol Dept
4 JULY: SUPPORT
1. The Head of Hong Kong Department is submitting separately some
initial ideas for the programme for the Secretary of State in Hong
Kong. It is already clear, however, that the success of the visit
will greatly depend upon the handling of the press and media. I
have looked back at the papers on the Secretary of State's last
visit which includes some helpful observations from my predecessor
about the media challenge in the colony. It is very apparent that
this visit will be more difficult on two counts:
first, there is the much more highly charged and hostile
atmosphere following events in China; and
secondly, we will on this occasion be accompanied by a large
group of political and diplomatic correspondents from London.
2. I will submit next week some thoughts about the best way to
handle the visit, briefings and interviews in advance, and through
active media management during the visit. The Secretary of State
will recall that last time he gave two breakfast- time briefings for
the writing press and electronic media before he set off for Hong
Kong. Mr Meyer clearly thought that this was an investment that
paid off handsomely. I recommend that the exercise should be
repeated in the week before the visit, if there is room in the
Secretary of State's timetable.
3.
For the visit itself we need to develop a very clear and simple
message which can be hammered home again and again. I think this