CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2232
OF 121153Z JULY 91
INFO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVER
HKD 026/1
TOP COPY Q DIST?
17.UL
173
064441 MDLIAN 5726
LORD CAITHNESS' VISIT: PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
1. MIFT CONTAINS PROPOSED PRESS ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE VISIT WHICH HAVE BEEN AGREED WITH BTC HONG KONG.
2. QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS ARE LIKELY TO FOCUS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON THE NEW AIRPORT AGREEMENT AND ON WHETHER HONG KONG'S INTERESTS HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. WE WOULD LIKE TO AVOID ANOTHER POST-MORTEM. WE HAVE THEREFORE NOT PROPOSED THAT LORD CAITHNESS HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE. INSTEAD, WE HAVE RECOMMENDED A PRESS BRIEFING ON FRIDAY 26 JULY AND MEETINGS WITH THE MEDIA IN SITUATIONS WHICH ARE THEMSELVES NEWSWORTHY AND CAN BE KEPT SHORT. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
3. WE WOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE ON WHAT MEDIA COVERAGE, IF ANY, YOU WOULD WISH FOR THE COMMUNITY LUNCH. IF THE MEDIA ARE PRESENT SOME OF THE GUESTS WILL PLAY TO THE GALLERY IN THE QUESTIONS THEY ASK. IT WOULD ALSO BE DIFFICULT TO PREVENT THE JOURNALISTS THEMSELVES FROM ASKING QUESTIONS. ON THE OTHER HAND, EXCLUDING THEM MIGHT CREATE ILL-FEELING AND AFFECT MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE VISIT. GRATEFUL ALSO TO KNOW HOW YOU ENVISAGE STRUCTURING THE QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
70
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
DISTRIBUTION
74
PLANNERS
PUSD
RAD
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL