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REGISTRY Action Taken!

[...

TO TELELETTER HONG KONG

TELELETTER NFR

OF 300654Z SEPTEMBER 93

AND TO TELELETTER FCO, PEKING

FROM: HIGH COMMISSIONER, SINGAPORE

GOVERNOR, HONG KONG

TO:

CC:

HMA PEKING

PETER RICKETTS ESQ, HKD, FCO

THOROLD MASEFIELD, FCO

Pr. Media (75)

114416

MDTTAN 1958

1.

Copy

My

Зоја т

3019 2. Mr Mann's

Miss Sam 24/10

JAMES FU

1.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW THAT JAMES FU CHIAO SIAN, WHO RETIRED FROM GOVERNMENT SERVICE THIS MONTH AFTER SERVING AS LEE KUAN YEW'S PRESS SECRETARY SINCE 1972, WILL IN ALL PROBABILITY SHORTLY BE MOVING TO HONG KONG TO TAKE UP A POSITION WITH THE SING TAO COMPANY.

2 =

I INVITED FU FOR A CHAT WHEN HE CALLED AT THE HIGH COMMISSION YESTERDAY TO LODGE HIS WORK PERMIT APPLICATION (WHICH IS ON ITS WAY TO YOUR IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT). FU IS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE CAPACITY OF GROUP GENERAL MANAGER IN THE CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE. HIS CONTRACT (A COPY OF WHICH WE HAVE SEEN) INDICATES HE WILL BE REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE CHAIRMAN, DR SALLY AW TIAN, AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT OF THE SING TAO GROUP'S NEWSPAPERS. THE CONTRACT ALSO SPECIFIES THAT FU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE COMPANY'S EDITORIAL POLICY REMAINS STRICTLY INDEPENDENT, WHILE TAKING QUOTE INTO ACCOUNT THE SENSITIVITY OF CHINA ON CERTAIN SENSITIVE ISSUES UNQUOTE AND MAINTAINING A CONSTRUCTIVE YET INDEPENDENT STANCE ON THEM.

3.

FU TOLD ME THAT HE EXPECTS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH DR AW TIAN, AND THAT HE WILL PRINCIPALLY BE ENGAGED IN QUOTE MANAGEMENT UNQUOTE OF THE GROUP'S TWO CHINESE LANGUAGE AND ONE ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS. FU WAS A WORKING JOURNALIST BEFORE ENTERING GOVERNMENT SERVICE, WITH BOTH PRESS AND TV EXPERIENCE BUT HE TOLD ME THAT HE

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