CONFIDENTIAL
.2.
1.
Our first reaction to your offer to "stand fire from the media" is that, provided that this was an unattributable meeting with selected correspondents, there could be little risk and much gain. It would certainly be helpful to the press to have balanced background material available for The Queen's visit. We think, however, that there might be less to be said for a
substantial interview on the record. Some of the press would undoubtedly try to put you on the defensive. In so far as you were reassuring, there might be people who would claim that, as an official, you had gone further than Ministers who have expressed concern. There is also possibly a risk that your position in Hong Kong could be damaged by any critical comments.
However, there is still some way to go before April. News Department's instinct is to suggest that we should leave open for the time being any plans for you to see the press. They, or the Hong Kong Government Office, could certainly lay on an unattributable briefing at short notice and they see no reason, at this moment, why this should not include a short on the record
statement if this seems desirable at the time.
On defence costs it is, as you say, possible that your visit could provide an opportunity for a further round of talks. We shall be writing to you separately about this when the conclusions of the team that visited you last month have been
considered by Ministers. This should be by about the middle
of February.
C.C.
His Excellency
Sir E Tomkins KCMG CVO
PARIS
Colv
Писа
Duncan Watson
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.