CONFIDENTIAL
301/1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1425
OF 031135Z SEPTEMBER 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
P... Medis.
021442
MDHIAN 3687
TOP COPY Q DIST?
PEKING TELNO 1173: FUTURE OF THE BBC T4TRANSMITTER IN HONG KONG
1. BEFORE DECIDING HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ESTABLISH CLEARLY THE BBC'S OWN INTENTIONS. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO APPROACH THEM IN LONDON? IF THEY ARE NOW COMMITTED TO ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS IN THAILAND OR ELSEWHERE AFTER 1997, ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE HONG KONG RELAY IS BOUND TO CLOSE, THEN OUR BEST TACK WOULD BE TO LET MATTERS TAKE THEIR COURSE AND SAY AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE TO THE CHINESE.
2. IF ON THE OTHER HAND THE BBC WISH US TO TAKE UP THE CUDGELS, WE SHOULD OF COURSE BE READY TO DO SO. BUT IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WE SHOULD AVOID GIVING THE CHINESE ANY GROUNDS FOR THINKING THAT WE REGARD THE CAUSE AS LOST. WE SHOULD THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT SUCH AN APPROACH BE BASED ON THE FIRST THREE TIRETS ONLY OF PARA FIVE OF TUR.
3. WE HAVE ALSO HEARD SUGGESTIONS THAT ANOTHER FOREIGN BROADCASTING SERVICE, PERHAPS AUSTRALIAN, MAY BE NEGOTIATING WITH THE CHINESE TO ESTABLISH A TRANSMITTER ON CHINESE SOIL. THE BBC MAY BE ABLE TO CLARIFY THIS. IF IT IS TRUE, THAT MIGHT PROVIDE ANOTHER USEFUL ARGUMENT IF WE DECIDE TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE ON THE BBC'S BEHALF.
PATTEN
YYYY
MAIN
54
HKD
INFO D
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT NEWS D.
PUSD.
RAD.
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
54
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
PS/PUS
MR HUM
HR ALSTON.
PAGE
1
MR MASE FIELD
CONFIDENTIAL