CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
HB 301/1
4 APR 1891
035401
MDHOAN 0735
}
TELNO 607
OF 28102OZ MARCH 91
INDE
·15
if
EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN BBC WORLD SERVICE AND RTHK
1.
WE HAVE BEEN CONSULTED ABOUT THE PROPOSED EXCHANGE OF
LETTERS TO COVER THE 24 HOUR RELAY OF THE BBC WORLD SERVICE IN ENGLISH TO RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE BBC REQUIRES THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S APPROVAL TO CONCLUDE SUCH AN AGREEMENT. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SIMILAR APPROVAL IS REQUIRED IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG BUT WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD CONFIRM WHETHER THAT IS CORRECT. IT WOULD IN ANY CASE, PRESUMABLY, ONLY BE NECESSARY FOR THE PERIOD BEFORE RTHK BECOMES AN INCORPORATED BODY INDEPENDENT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
2.
WE NOTE THAT THE AGREEMENT IS INTENDED TO RUN OVER 1997 UP TO 31 DECEMBER 1999. CAN WE TAKE IT THAT YOU SEE NO LIKELIHOOD OF THIS CAUSING A PROBLEM AS FAR AS THE CHINESE ARE CONCERNED?
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
31
LIMITED
HKD
INFORMATION DEPT PS/LORD CAITHNESS
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
31
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
MR BURNS
MISS SPENCER
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL