TNAG-0070-FCO40-106-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-propaganda-1968 — Page 57

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G.F. 323

(f)

CONFIDENTIAL

6-

This tactic can be used to overcome resistance to

persuasion or anticipated hostility_7.

Frank explanation of the reasonableness, progressiveness

and thoughtfulness of Government policies on every

conceivable occasion e.g. when senior officers leave

or arrive in the Colony, informally at clubs, in

speeches at clubs, in conversation at parties.

3.

(i)

Tools.

Agencies which can operate or be used for the public relations

effort:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Senior Government officers, and from them

Junior Government officers.

Government Information Services.

Radio Hong Kong, Commercial Radio and Rediffusion.

Both T.V. stations.

Leading and respected local leaders in the constitutional,

business, educational, social fields.

PUBLIC RELATIONS ROLE OF SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS.

If Government has to take the initiative as stated in para 2(b), then

it is most important that senior officers are briefed and at ease in performing

these public relations functions and therefore able to give a lead to others.

The summary in para. 2 itself gives senior officers a consolidated account of

what is involved over the whole range of the effort, which is a start. This

section sets out in more detail guiding principles for senior officers when

building up and integrating a public relations effort with their other

administrative tasks.

CONFIDENTIAL