CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHIAN 3234
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1391
OF 310852Z AUGUST 93
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING
YOUR TELNO 33 TO UKREP JLG: FUTURE OF THE BBC TRANSMITTER IN HONG
KONG
1.
NEITHER WE NOR UKREP JLG, WITH WHOM WE HAVE DISCUSSED TUR, SEE ANY OBJECTION TO YOUR BRIEFING THE BBC IN CONFIDENCE ON THE CHINESE POSITION. WE AND UKREP ALSO AGREE WITH YOUR PROPOSED DEFENSIVE PRESS LINE.
2.
THE CHINESE DECISION WILL PRESUMABLY BECOME PUBLIC SOONER OR
LATER. IT WILL PROBABLY CAUSE DISAPPOINTMENT IN SOME QUARTERS HERE, AND POSSIBLY EVEN DEMANDS THAT WE ASK THE CHINESE TO RECONSIDER THEIR POSITION. YOU DEFENSIVE LINE SHOULD PROVIDE SOME REASSURANCE THAT THE WORLD SERVICE WILL STILL BE ACCESSIBLE IN HONG KONG. BUT ANY FURTHER DETAIL WE CAN DEPLOY ON THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL. ARE THE BBC STILL PRESSING AHEAD WITH PLANS TO ESTABLISH A NEW RELAY FACILITY IN THAILAND (LETTER HARRIS, INFORMATION DEPARTMENT/DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER OF 25 SEPTEMBER 1992 REFERS)?
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