Mr Burns
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 182 14
From: David Crystal
News Department
Date: 13 May 1991
15)
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Mr Cox
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INDEPENDENT ARTICLE BY SARAH HELM
1.
You asked about the origins of the article by Sarah Helm
which appeared in the Independent of 2 May.
2. Mr Paul gave Miss Helm a background briefing at which I
was present on 30 April. Very little of the briefing was reflected in the article. Ms Helm telephoned me on 1 May to ask about timing as she had at the briefing the previous day. In response to her remark that she was going to write in terms of a resumption of talks the following week, I
said there was little point in arranging for her to receive background briefing if she ignored the information she was
given. She insisted that she had other sources and although she gave no details I am clear that she was referring to
Hong Kong.
2.
There are other equally disturbing examples:
(i)
You will recall Peking's report on 10 May
that the SCMP has asked about 18 May as
a date for the talks. At the same time the
Oriental Daily News put the date to Osborne in
Hong Kong;
(Ellicht HK)
(ii) The FT of Saturday (11 May) says that the timing
of the talks has been arranged, "to fit in with
other commitments of Mr Andrew Burns,
... •
"
(iii) Osborned received a call on Friday night (10 May)
asking for information about Nigel Cox, an official who would be accompanying Mr Burns.
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