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(108
MAB 30/1 pa Media
FROM : A D Harris
Information Department
Ich
16 July 1991
cc: Miss Spencer
김
DATE
:
Mr Hall
APS
Mr. Burns Mr Paul
HKD
1
PROPOSED CALL BY MR MICHAEL CHECKLAND, BBC, ON THE SECRETARY OF
STATE
1.
107
Thank you for your minute of 16 July. I have spoken to
Mr Irwin, the Head of BBC World Service Television (WSTV).
2.
According to Mr Irwin, Mr Checkland is seeking a call of no more than 15 minutes on the Secretary of State in order to introduce
Mr Li. The BBC believe that they are very close to agreement with
Hutchvision who plan to launch a five channel television service to
Asia via Asiasat, including one channel devoted to BBC WSTV.
Mr Irwin says that the aim of the call is to impress Mr Li, and that
the latter has more or less indicated his willingness to sign the
deal, once the Secretary of State has given a final touch of
reassurance to him on the Government's support for this project.
Mr Irwin insists that neither he nor Mr Li want anything further
from the FCO beyond what is already included in Miss Spencer's
letter of comfort of 13 July (copy attached), which was written with
Mr Lennox-Boyd's endorsement, following a call by Mr Li,
Lord Derwent and Mr Irwin on 27 June.
3.
The deal between the BBC and Hutchison has been held up on two
points. The BBC want to launch an additional entertainment channel
as a subscription service, which the Hong Kong authorities are
considering. Secondly Hutchison wish to broadcast in Cantonese,
although the Hong Kong authorities gave an assurance last year to
the existing local TV stations that no new broadcasts would be
permitted in Cantonese for three years. The BBC also want to