TNAG-0840-FCO40-1049-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1979 — Page 53

Mr Hall

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- 7 SEP 1979

DESK OFICER

INDEX

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CHINA: SECRETARY OF STATE'S INTERVIEW FOR "TODAY"

1. The Secretary of State has agreed to be interviewed on Sino- British relations by Mr Philip Short of the BBC, for the "Today" programme, on Thursday, 6 September at 2.30 pm.

2=

The BBC have indicated the four questions which they particularly want to raise. I attach speaking notes on these, together with a broader based speaking note Con which the Secretary of State may wish to draw if other topics are raised) and a background note on Sino-British relations, recent developments in China and Chinese foreign policy.

3. We think we have dissuaded the BBC from asking a question which compared unfavourably the amount of time Premier Hua proposes to spend in Britain, compared with France and West Germany. If they do revert to this question, the Secretary of State will doubtless wish to deride any suggestion that accidents of timing of this sort have any political significance. (In fact the timing of Hua's visit to the three countries has yet to be finally settled, as the Chinese now want to add Italy to the itinerary.)

News, East European and Soviet, South East Asian, Hong Kong and General and Defence Departments, and Planning Staff concur.

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5 September 1979

CC:

hid and Sommel

Mr Fenn, News Dept (W18)

Mr Gillmore, Defence Dept (E302) *

Mr McLaren, HK&GD (K242) Mr Mallaby, EESD (W100) Mr Simons, SEAD (W85) Planning Staff

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RC Samuel

Far Eastern Dept

[(Williando 81.9

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