CONFIDENTIAL
MED 32012
222
067612 MDLOAN 4000
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 721
OF 23114OZ MARCH 8
AND TO PRIORITY PEKING
19
OUR TELNO 693: BBC RELAY STATION
1.
THEY
WE FOLLOWED UP PARA 5 OF YOUR TELNO 928 WITH THE BBC. HAVE CONFIRMED THERE IS NO FORMAL UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CHINESE ON CONTINUED USE OF THE RELAY STATION AFTER 1997. BUT, AS INDICATED IN A WORLD SERVICE BROADCAST ON 17 MARCH ABOUT THE HONG KONG PRESS REPORT (TRANSCRIPT FOLLOWS BY FAX), THE BBC TELL US THEY GAVE THE CHINESE EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN THE MONTHS BEFORE THE RELAY OPENED IN 1987 TO EXPRESS A VIEW ON THIS QUESTION, INCLUDING APPARENTLY A DISCUSSION IN FRONT OF ZHOU NAN. THE BBC HAD FORMED THE CLEAR IMPRESSION THE CHINESE WOULD BE HAPPY FOR STATION TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS BEYOND 1997 AND THIS IS THE FIRST SUGGESTION SINCE THEN OF A POSSIBLE CHANGE IN CHINESE
ATTITUDE.
HOWE
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
75
L
ΜΑΙΝ
LIMITED
74
INFORMATION DEPT
HKD
FED
PLANNERS
PUSD
PS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR WATTS
MR MCLAREN
MISS PESTELL
PS/MRS CHALKER
ADDITIONAL
HKGO LONDON
NNWN
1
}