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FM FCO
TELNO 89
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HKB 301/1
RECEIVED IN ISTRY
16 AUG 1993
TO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
OF 111528Z AUGUST 93
131
147412
MDLOAN 9408
12/8 Thrs BJ
PERSONAL FOR STC FROM ASSISTANT HEAD INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
FCO TEL NO 88: BBC WORLD SERVICE TELEVISION
Ms and 27/5
12/8
1. WSTV say they have so far had no indication of News Corporation's attitude or intentions regarding the service which they provide for Star TV. They have no wish to precipitate matters by taking any initiative themselves, and are content to wait for the new management at Star to make the first approach once it has constituted itself, settled in and decided what it wants to do. They believe that News Corporation's first priority will be the development of the planned pay TV services. They will anyway continue efforts to Work up a viable alternative to Star for WSTV in Asia, as a safeguard in case of emergency and more generally to strengthen their negotiating position in any future dealings with Star over their channel, even if there is no immediate threat to it.
2.
WSTV remain concerned that Star might see an early call by BTC as an attempt to take soundings on their behalf. We do not believe however that this means you should unnaturally cut yourself off from contacts which you Would otherwise have in the normal course of work. You have a clear and legitimate interest in the development of TV in Hong Kong and the region and in the implications for this of the changes at Star. You might consider arranging a call, not immediately but fairly soon, for a discussion with the new Star management of their views and plans in general, covering the existing Star services, including WSTV, as part of the wider scene.
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