CONFIDENTIAL
10. In Hong Kong and Peking, we shall ask the BTC and the Embassy to brief selected influential media people on the subject. It is the Peking correspondents of the serious British press who are most outspoken about China's human rights' record. It ought to be the correspondents in Hong Kong, who will understand the importance of doing business with Peking. We shall ask the Governor to encourage members of Exco (like Lady Dunn, Maria Tam, etc) and others (like Helmut Sohmen) to speak up publicly too. We shall liaise with the Hong Kong Government about visitors to London too - those, for example, attending the Prime Minister's lunch on 13 March are not likely to be the best advocates, even if there was by then a public announcement on which to peg their reactions.
11. But there is no substitute to asking the Secretary of State, if he can find the time, to speak to the main papers one by one. I suggest the following in order of importance, with the suggestion that Lord Caithness (or other Ministers) might be invited to act where the Secretary of State cannot:-
The Times. Simon Jenkins is crucial, if we are to overcome the effects of Bernard Levin and Rosemarie Righter.
12.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
The Independent. Peter Jenkins is the key. The Editor does not himself write on these issues and it is not easy to tell who below him will be tasked (? Roger Berthoud).
The Daily Mail. Sir David English.
The Daily Telegraph. I have no personal feel for the likely attitude of Max Hastings, but their Asian expert, Simon Scott-Plummer, is very sensible. Sir Peregrine Worsthorne will be interested too.
The Guardian. John Gittings, one of the leader writers, is the China expert, though
Peter Preston will take an interest.
The Financial Times. It would be worth focussing on Edward Mortimer.
(vii) The Economist. Rupert Pennant Rea or
Nicholas Colchester.
(viii) The Mail on Sunday. Stewart Steven.
Nearer the visit, I recommend that the Secretary of State should talk about his plans in interviews with the BBC (World at One), the BBC World Service, and Hong Kong radio and TV.
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