TNAG-0333-FCO40-369-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 23

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TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 921 OF 23 OCTOBER. 1972

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1. MY TELNO 903 TO PEKING: PRESS ARRANGEMENTS FOR VISIT.

FROM LEAHY

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2. WE HAD ASSUMED THAT THE CHINESE. WOULD PREFER THE SECRETARY

OF STATE NOT TO GIVE AN ON THE RECORD PRESS CONFERENCE IN PEKING

AND WE THEREFORE PLANNED AN UNATTRIBUTABLE BRIEFING ONLY. HOWEVER

IF AS THE AMBASSADOR SEEMS TO THINK (PEKING TELNO 1973) THIS ASSUMPTION IS WRONG I AGREE WITH HIM THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE OUR

PLANS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE NORMALLY GIVES A PRESS CONFERENCE DURING MINISTERIAL VISITS TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND THE PRESS WILL CERTAINLY EXPECT HIM TO DO SO THIS TIME IF HE CAN. MOREOVER SOME (PERHAPS MOST) OF THE VISITING PRESS PARTY MAY NOT REACH HONG KONG IN TIME FOR THE 3 NOVEMBER PRESS CONFERENCE.

3. THERE IS A RISK, OF COURSE, THAT THE FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE WILL STEAL SOME OF THE THUNDER FROM THE SECOND, BUT I WOULD NOT EXPECT THE QUESTIONS TO COVER EXACTLY THE SAME GROUND AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO KEEP SOMETHING IN RESERVE FOR THE SECOND.

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P.S. TO MR ROYLE

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