TNAG-1077-FCO40-1327-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-BBC-relay-station-1981 — Page 102

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DENK

CONFIDENTIAL.

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GR 230

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 180935Z JUN

TO ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 604 OF 18 JUNE, 1981

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON AND PEKING.

BBC EXTERNAL SERVICES: PROPOSED RELAY STATION IN HONG KONG.

YOUR TEL NO 539:

17

AND 1. HOWARD SPOKE TO ME ABOUT A SITE FOR A RELAY STATION, APPEARED TO BE ASKING FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT POLITICAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT. I SAID THAT THE DECISION WAS FOR THE F.C.O. AND IT WAS ONLY WITH THE F.C.O. THAT WE COULD DEAL. A GRANT OF LAND WOULD REQUIRE A SUBMISSION TO EXCO, AND I WAS NOT PREPARED TO MAKE ONE UNLESS ASSURED BY THE F.C.O. THAT FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTING

THE STATION WERE AVAILABLE, OTHERWISE THE LAND WOULD BE WASTED. THE BALL IS THEREFORE IN YOUR COURT.

2. I DARE SAY WE COULD MAKE OUT A CASE FOR GRANTING THE LAND AT A SPECIAL OR NIL PREMIUM BUT CANNOT PRE-JUDGE EXCO'S

DECISION.

3. I THINK IT UNLIKELY FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD CONSIDER THE COST

OF THE STATION A FAIR CHARGE ON H.K.G. I DID NOT SUGGEST OTHERWISE TO HOWARD.

4. YOUR PARA 4. I AGREE WITH PEKING'S TELNO 435. THERE IS OF COURSE ALREADY A GREAT DEAL OF HONG KONG BROADCASTING OF BOTH SOUND AND TELEVISION THAT IS LISTENED TO IN CHINA IN ADDITION TO THE BBC

RELAYS.

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED

INFO D HK v GD FE D NEWS.D

PUSD

MR DONALD

LORD N.G LENNOX

ཝཱ

CONFIDENTIAL

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