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20% in 1989/90 over 1988/89.
20. Mr Muir said that the nub of the debate over the various parts of the Far Eastern Service, and where the FCO and the BBC had different perspectives, was whether or not resources should be put into the Services aimed at areas of low priority in foreign policy terms and where there were alterantive means of getting the message across. The Japanese and Malay Services were not at present effective and there were alternatives. Conversely there might, however, be a case for a modest extension to Vietnamese, seen against the possibility of savings being achieved elsewhere, and it would be useful if the BBC could investigate the case for three half hour slots for consideration at the November Prescription meeting.
Information Department August 1989
RB2ADN/7
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