Service: FAR EASTERN
RESTRICTED
BROADCASTING ASSESSMENT
Language:
| Post(s):
CHINESE Peking
no H.K. available
Criteria for Broadcasting
1.
Importance to British interests:
(a) Political
(b) Commercial and Economic
UK investment 1984
1
High, particularly in the context of | Hong Kong.
| Medium, likely to become increasingly
important as Chinese economy develops.
Hard to estimate, joint venture investment growing, of the order of £10's of millions.
| £317m.
2.
3.
4.
Imports from UK 1984
(c)
Aid and Development
British Aid 1985/86
(d) Defence
Diplomatic Service/British Council effort in the country/area:
Nature of regime:
(a) Susceptible to public opinion
in short/medium term?
(b) Public access to reliable and
comprehensive information from internal media and to range of opinions?
Other broadcasters:
(a) Reliable and balanced coverage
by friendly nations?
(b)
Need for British counterbalance?
£2m technical cooperation. loan recently made available.
£100m soft
Modest, but increasing opportunities for defence sales.
| Medium. 40 DS, 6 BC, 3 MOD.
| Single Party Communist State.
Domestic public opinion can have some
influence, foreign public opinion very
| little, unless expressed as policy by
foreign governments.
| Limited. Internal media closely
❘ controlled, selective and ideologically
| rigid. But increasing public debate on
important issues.
Yes, but tend to reflect own interests and perspectives eg VOA, Deutsche Welle and | Japan.
Yes, need for British perspective reflecting British interests and to counter Soviet and North Korean
! propaganda.
RESTRICTED
Page 180Page 181