SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 732
OF 021659Z AUGUST 93
SECRET
HKB 301/1
301/115
RECI
CISTRY
03
1993
INDE.
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKRĘP JLG HONG KONG.
pa.
Media (119
124520 MDHOAN 6359
YOUR TELNO 1274: TALKS WITH THE CHINESE:
HONG KONG PRESS REPORTS
PERSONAL FOR PS/GH FROM MORRIS, HKD
1.
This report in the Sunday Morning Post is most unwelcome. We are mystified as to who these 'sources in London' can be. We have established that they are not/not FCO sources (as you would expect, none of us have spoken to the press about these issues on anything other than standard Lines).
-
2. We are also puzzled as to who ''Charles Locke in London'' might be. Neither News Department nor HKGO know of any journalist of this name. Interestingly, HKGO asked David Healy of the Sunday Morning Post if he knew who Charles Locke was he did not. But he suggested (please protect) that we ask John Ellison if he knew the identity of Mr Locke. John Ellison recently told News Department that he was planning to write for the South China Morning Post in addition to his work for the Oriental Daily News. It is conceivable that he may have chosen to write under an alias. This article bears all the hallmarks of Ellison's recent highly speculative (and sometimes invented) pieces, which he usually ascribes to 'official London sources'' of one kind or another.
-3. We shall investigate further and let you know if anything
emerges. Meanwhile this story has not been picked up by the UK press. If it is, we shall echo your line to take and attempt to ride them off.
HURD
YYYY
PAGE
SECRET
1