TNAG-0493-FCO40-558-Establishment-of-Anti-Corruption-Commission-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 95

CONFIDENTIAL

WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE FIRST INSTANCE IS AN AGREED REPLY TO POSSIBLE PRESS QUESTIONS BEFORE REPEAT BEFORE COMMANDER ANNING AND CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT GILLERT ARRIVE IN HONG KONG. 6. THE DRAFT PRESS STATEMENT WHICH YOU SUGGEST FOR SIMULTANEOUS RELEASE AT EACH END (PRESUMABLY AFTER ANNING AND GILLERT ARRIVE) COULD BE THE BASIS OF THIS AGREED REPLY. HOWEVER, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE WORDS ASPECTS OF THE WORK'' IN THE FINAL LINE SHOULD BE REPLACED BY ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE WORK'' ETC. IT IS FELT THAT THE ORIGINAL VERSION WOULD OPEN THE WAY TO SPECULATION THAT ANNING AND GILLERT HAD OTHER REASONS FOR VISITING HONG KONG. AS AN ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARD, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IF WE ARE ASKED THE STRAIGHT QUESTION, WE SHOULD STATE CATEGORICALLY THAT ANNING AND GILLERT WILL NOT BE CONCERNED DURING THEIR VISIT WITH ANY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, EITHER SPECIFIC OR GENERAL. 7. THIS SUGGESTED PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH PRESS QUESTIONS, HAS THE FULL AGREEMENT OF SCOTLAND YARD. AN URGENT REPLY IS REQUESTED AS THE LIKELIHOOD OF PRESS QUESTIONS INCREASES AS THE

TIME OF THE VISIT GROWS NEARER.

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HKIOD OPA

MR THOMSON

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Hong Kong Gout. Office

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CONFIDENTIAL