together with any other comments that you consider should be brought to the notice of the Governor.
5.
I am addressing a copy of this minute to Mr. Colin Wilson, I.R.D.
MG.
(A.W. GAMINARA)
29 February 1968
With all due respect this delegation apparently does not realise that the British press and television are more sophisticated than their counterparts else- where and do not take kindly to official handouts. The best way of influencing them is through the personal approach either by cultivating journalists on the spot in Hong Kong or by high level contacts in this country. Mr. Rivett-Carnac was able to make certain progress in instituting better briefing facilities for correspondents in Hong Kong and we have been able to drop the occasional suggestion through friendly contacts here. We cannot however bring direct pressure to bear on editors nor indulge in a massive publicity campaign in this country. I would therefore suggest the attached form of words which I hope puts over our point tactfully.
"HMG is fully conscious of the need for public opinion not only in this country but also throughout the world to be presented with a balanced picture of developments in Hong Kong and to this end the British information network has been working in close collaboration with the Hong Kong Government Information Services. A great deal of material in the form of articles, background briefing notes, films and radio tapes has therefore been distributed. Nevertheless given the traditional independence of the press and other mass communications media in this country, anything which HMG can do is far outweighed by the impressions gained by journalists on the spot and their influence on editorial opinion at home"
J. A. Stowe) (Miss)
6 March, 1968
Mr. Gaminara
As you know the section from the memoranda reproduced in paragraph 2 of your minute deals with only part of the wider question of giving favourable publicity for Hong Kong throughout the world and
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