TNAG-0069-FCO40-105-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-propaganda-1967 — Page 67

R. 318.

SECRET

For information propaganda file

AO

3,10.57

HONG KONG WORKING GROUP

The second meeting of the Hong Kong Working Group was held in the Conference Room in Riverwalk House at 3 p.m. on Wednesday 27 September 1967.

Mr. Peck (Chairman) Mr. Carrocher

Mr.

Gaminara

Present were:

IRD

News Department, C.R.O.

Hong Kong and West India

TRES IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAIR BEEN RETAINED

IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION

(4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT

Department.

Mr. Holloway

JIPGD

Mr.

Littlejohn Cook

JIPGD

Miss Stowe

JIPGD

Col Wild

Ministry of Defence IRD

༢/

Mr. Wilson

All

The Chairman said that the meeting had been called to review progress, particularly in view of the recent return to Hong Kong of the Governor, the Political Adviser and the Director of the Hong Kong Government Information Services. In addition, Mr. Rivett-Carnac had taken up his post. had held discussions with members of the Group while in

As a result London and had seen the papers relating to it. they now had a better idea of the kind of work in which the Group was engaged.

3*

It was generally agreed that the problem was no longer an emergency issue but should be considered on a long term basis. In these circumstances information work must be a continuous effort in order to prevent a loss of confidence in the colony which might not be immediately obvious but would

Colonel eventually be reflected in Hong Kong's markets. Wild drew attention to the fact that the Ministry of Defence had increased its military intelligence effort by fifty per cent to meet the long term threat.

4.

In commenting on the note which he had prepared on JIPGD's requirements and cireulated to members of the Group, Mr. Littlejohn Cook emphasised that the major concern was to maintain confidence in the Hong Kong stability particularly in its main markets in the United States and Western Europe. The supply of material from Hong Kong had now improved and London's role should be to disseminate this.

Staffing Problems in Hong Kong.

5. Mr. Gaminara reported that at a meeting with the Governor, the need for more staff in the Colony had been raised together with the possibility of an officer being loaned permanently from JIPGD to coordinate action. Mr. Littlejohn Cook said that Rivett-Carnac would be doing this until November. He added that Mr. Watt had asked the COI for five additional journalists but the request had been turned down. was not possible he said to spare an LPS correspondent to write up the material in Hong Kong. An argument in favour of engaging an outside journalist was that those concerned

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-A UCT1967

HWB 13/22