HKCB 301/1
15JJ. 1993
pa. Media
103
FROM:
PS/Mr Goodlad
DATE:
7 June 1993
CC:
Sir J Coles
W
M. Mom's 4
14/6
Ms Saunders dr
We shd monitor some editorials
Carefully
Mr Ricketts, HKD
-e mark, interesting examples to Mh. C.
Mr Hum
Mr Fry, FED
Ms Everett, News Dept PS/Governor, Hong Kong Mr Osborne, BTC, Hong
Kong Chancery, Peking
8816
MEETING BETWEEN MR GOODLAD AND DAVID ARMSTRONG, SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONG KONG: 1 JUNE 1993
1. On 1 June, during his recent visit to Hong Kong, Mr Goodlad met David Armstrong, the new Editor of the South China Morning Post (SCMP) at Government House. He had previously met Mr Armstrong when the latter passed through London on his way to take up his new appointment.
2.
Mr Goodlad asked whether there had been any changes to editorial policy since Mr Armstrong took over. Mr Armstrong acknowledged that there had been: the SCMP was more cautious and less supportive of the Governor and the Hong Kong Government's policy in the constitutional debate than had been the case before. Mr Goodlad asked what had changed Mr Armstrong's mind so quickly. During the latter's recent visit to London he had confessed that he was not familiar with the Hong Kong scene. Mr Armstrong said that he was not the driving force behind the changes. Mr Goodlad asked who was. Mr Armstrong said that the view existed in some quarters that the SCMP had been overly supportive of the Governor. Mr Goodlad asked which quarters these were. Armstrong acknowledged that this view was essentially Mr Murdoch's. He believed that with the opportunities now opening up in China it was inappropriate to be too aggressive towards the Chinese.
Mr
3. Mr Goodlad said that he was sorry to hear that the SCMP had become hostile towards the Governor. Mr Armstrong back-tracked hastily, saying that it was not a question of being hostile. It was simply that editorial policy was no longer to be so "gung ho" in support of the Governor's constitutional proposals. Mr Goodlad said that he was pleased the policy was not to attack the Governor and he would read future editorials with interest. He looked forward to meeting Mr Armstrong on future visits to Hong Kong.
6.J Doney
Greg Dorey