TNAG-0333-FCO40-369-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 101

PRIORITY CYPHER/CAT A.

F F C O 091805Z

CONFIDENTIAL.

CONFIDENTIAL

(PN)

1972

TO PRIORITY PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 793 OF 9 OCTOBER/INFO GOVERNOR

HONG KONG

MY TELEGRAM NO 786

1.(153)

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51

NIE

R.

110 OCT 1972

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISITE PRESS ARRANGEMENTS.

HILIL

375714

2.

FOLLOWING FROM LEAHY:

PARAGRAPH 4 OF REF. TELEGRAM.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE MENTIONED

TO SUNG AT LUNCH TODAY THAT THE BRITISH JOURNALISTS WOULD LIKE TO ARRIVE IN PEKING EARLY, SUNG WAS ONLY ABLE TO GIVE A NON-COMMITTAL REPLY AND WE SHOULD, THEREFORE, BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD NOW REVERT

TO THIS MATTER WITH THE CHINESE YOURSELF. AS YOU WILL PROBABLY REAL S THE JOURNALISTS THEMSELVES ATTACH MUCH IMPORTANCE TO IT AND WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN SECURE CHINESE AGREEMENT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

TO THE FRAME OF MIND IN WHICH THEY APPROACH THE WHOLE VISIT, MOREOVER THEY NEED TO HAVE AN ANSWER QUICKLY IF THEY ARE TO MAKE THE

NECESSARY BOOKINGS.

3. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS WHO LOOK LIKE COMING AND THE FACT THE CHINESE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY TRY TO USE US AS INTERMEDIA- RIES IN DEALING WITH ANY PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE BETWEEN THEM AND THE JOURNALISTS, THERE WILL CLEARLY BE A FAIR AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATIVE WORK ON THE PRESS SIDE. I MYSELF EXPECT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE TALKS AND IN ARRANGING BRIEFINGS ETC AND MAY NOT HAVE

MUCH TIME TO COPE WITH OTHER THINGS. WE COULD GET OVER THIS DIFFICULTY IN ONE OR TWO WAYS: EITHER YOU COULD MAKE SOMEONE AVAILABLE

ON A MORE OR LESS FULL-TIME BASIS TO HELP ME OUT, OR WEAIT OF NEWS DEPT COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE VISITING PARTY. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD LET ME KNOW WHICH OF THESE TWO ALTERNATIVES

YOU WOULD PREFER.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES NEWS D

FED

HKIOD

IRD GIPD

PS

MR WILFORD

. SIR D WATSON

MR D A SCOTT

CONFIDENTIAL

filed pa

Posik

vol10