Mr McLaren
CONFIDENTIAL
Private Secretary
RECEIVE @
HONG KONG
Problem
From:
Pn
RA Burns
44
Governer!
News Department
Date:
2 March 1990
CC:
HKB 026/11
14 MAR 1990
DESK OFFICEY
INDEX
RY
PS/Mr Maude
PS/PUS
Mr Gillmore
Heads, HKD
SEAD
1. How to respond to press and media interest in the visit by the Governor of Hong Kong next week, and on Hong Kong related issues generally.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that Mr Maude and the Governor of Hong Kong give a joint press conference on Friday morning, 9 March.
Background and Argument
There
3. Mr Maude has reacted favourably to the idea of a joint press conference, providing that the Secretary of State is content. is much interest in the forthcoming visit by Sir David Wilson, as there has been in the recent travels by Mr Maude in South East Asia. An on the record press conference at the end of next week would be a good way of turning current press interest to our advantage.
4.
There are five main issues at the moment:
(a) Vietnamese Boat People
We may just possibly have an agreement with the Vietnamese by the end of next week. Even if we do not, we have a constant
CONFIDENTIAL