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of changing Chinese minds.
We consider that the priority should
be to avoid complicating the BBC's Thailand option: and a public
row with the Chinese over broadcasting to China could put at
risk the BBC's negotiations with Thailand for their new
transmitter there. We would not want to provoke the Chinese into putting pressure on the Thais.
5.
The Embassy in Peking have proposed a rather combative response to the Chinese. For the above reasons, neither we nor the BBC think this is the right approach. The attached telegram proposes a lower-key approach, which we understand matches Hong Kong's views. We can allay any public fears that Hong Kong may be deprived of access to the BBC World Service by pointing out that this is transmitted to Hong Kong on shortwave from
Singapore. The BBC transmitter in Hong Kong serves Northern
China.
G
6. We have agreed with Information Department the following
low-key contingency line-to-take, should the news about the Hong
Kong transmitter become public:
- It is not unexpected that the Chinese authorities should refuse to agree to any foreign transmission stations operating in Hong Kong after June 1997.
Important that the BBC World Service should maintain its ability to broadcast effectively to all countries in the region. This does not depend solely on the Hong Kong station. Confident
that by 1997 satisfactory arrangements can be made to provide
the necessary coverage.
K. Saunders
bbc.PR.JRB
KAM Saunders
Pricha
CONFIDENTIAL