TNAG-0374-FCO40-420-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 89

CONFIDENTIAL

'C'

BBC FAR EAST RELAY

1. The BBC are looking for alternative sites for their Far

East Relay Station in view of the impending closure of the BBC

Station at Tebrau in West Malaysia. The Singapore Government

are understood to be sympathetic to the BBC's needs and it is

hoped that they will be able to come up with a site. However,

it is anticipated that a site in Singapore is unlikely to be

large enough to replace Tebrau entirely. The BBC are therefore

seeking other sites for a supplementary relay station to top-up

the Singapore relay. They are looking at the possibility of a

site in Hong Kong.

2. The Hong Kong Government and Sir John Addis have been

consulted about the possible political problems vis-a-vis China.

Sir John Addis's assessment is that the Chinese might well not

make difficulties in the present political climate, particularly

if the reasons for, and scope of, the relay station were

explained well before there was any publicity. The Hong Kong

Government have some reservations about the likely Chinese

reaction should the political climate change, and are also

slightly concerned at the land requirements aspect. Sir Hugh

Norman Walker has suggested that the Governor should be consulted

when he is in the office and IAD will be discussing this with him.

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department

7 September 1973

CONFIDENTIAL