TNAG-0070-FCO40-106-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-propaganda-1968 — Page 47

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CONFIDENTIAL

To: D.C.S. (Special Duties)

MEMO

From: Director of Information Services

Ref. ISD 21/69(CR)

Tel. No. H-233191

Date 17th October, 1967

62

Future of Special Publicity Unit

The following comments relate to the three draft papers on the future of the Special Publicity Unit which were prepared by my Deputy while I was on leave and which have been submitted to your Publicity

Committee for further consideration.

2. I recognise the urgent need for a fresh appraisal of Government's approach to its problems of information and public image and I welcome the fact that the disturbances have produced the necessary impetus to initiate this preliminary appraisal through such a broadly representative group as your Committee a Committee (and its associated working sub-unit) which I have recognised as essential from the outset and have encouraged by instructing that the best of my staff should be utilised irrespective of the loss of efficiency to less essential services of my department.

3. Having said that, I must however record my concern for the procedure which has been followed in the preparation and preliminary consideration of the draft Report. I do not believe that the special problems of community information, which are being handled so effectively by your Committee and particularly by my Deputy, can be dealt with satisfactorily in isolation from other of my departmental problems. But even if this were possible, I do not think that the Committee should have sought a

policy report of this nature from one of my senior officers without seeking my approval in writing to such a procedure. Nevertheless the objectives we are trying to attain are to my mind so vital to the future

of Hong Kong that I am the first to recognise that delays caused by procedural niceties are not to be tolerated and personal irritation is

a very secondary consideration,

4.

I have deliberately restrained myself from commenting on the Report long enough to ensure that the recommendations which follow reflect my carefully considered views in the best interests of an overall government information policy.

5.

The type of work now being undertaken by the Special Publicity Unit is a vital facet of Government's information effort, the importance of

CONFIDENTIAL