TNAG-0070-FCO40-106-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-propaganda-1968 — Page 32

19

(2LIA,

There's the

rub

2-WEL. 280/35/1

CONFIDENTIAL

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION P.O. Box 1812, Custom House Quay WELLINGTON, New Zealand

Mil Telegraphic address: Ukrep

Telephone: 46-060

Telex: NZ 3325

A. Carefriade N.. Brown

Dear Carter,

H.K. Tel. No. 1355-

CV

14 December, 1967

Mr. Hewit was handling

We ought to send

msn

Won 28/12

Suitable reply.

ADVERSE PUBLICITY ON HONG KONG

We were interested to see Hong Kong telegram No. 1355 which expressed concern at the attitude of a number of the major airlines and shipping companies to the promotion of travel to Hong Kong and we had thought of commenting on it at the time insofar as it referred to Air New Zealand and It press reporting in New Zealand of Hong Kong affairs. seemed however that your telegram No. 1954 was probably no more than an interim reply and that you might be considering bringing us more directly into the exchanges at a later date. As it has turned out, our guess was wrong, and we have seen no more correspondence on this subject. The general situation in Hong Kong has now improved, but it may still be useful if, even at this late date, I set out briefly some comments on the points raised in Hong Kong's telegram.

...

2. It is difficult to see on what grounds Hong Kong based their assertion that there had been a "good deal of inaccurate reporting of Hong Kong affairs

in New Zealand". Most of the reports which have appeared in the New Zealand press have reflected pretty faithfully the line taken by newspapers in Britain as they often do on other topics. In this instance, since the New Zealand Press Association have no representative in Hong Kong the local press has leaned he avily on Reuters 4 representative for its stories. The local papers have also published many of the articles and background notes which we have distributed on receipt from London. In addition, the N.Z.B.C. broadcast (live or recorded) the B.B. C. Overseas News four times each morning and twice in the evenings.

The press and radio coverage he re has therefore been factually correct, and it would be difficult to lay our hands on any item which was given a more sensational slant than the original story.

64

мо

13..

Carter Esq. C.V.O.,

Hong Kong and West Indian Department

Church House,

Great Smith Street, LONDON, S.W.1.

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CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No: 63 * 1 JAN 1968

HWA 13/22