TNAG-1077-FCO40-1327-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-BBC-relay-station-1981 — Page 120

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BBC EXTERNAL SERVICES

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I had a talk today with Mr. Dennay, the External Services' Chief Engineer, and Mr. Diamond, the Chief Accountant. The conversation turned to the proposed relay station in Hong Kong and the following record is of general interest. I suggest you might take a copy to leave with Mr. Wilson in Hong Kong when you go there.

2.

Mr. Dennay referred to a somewhat casual conversation earlier this year between Mr. Wick, the new Head of the US International Communication Agency (which inter alia supervises the Voice of America (VOA)), and Mr. Howard, the BBC Chairman. Wick, who was far from fully briefed and had not yet assumed office, said there might be a possibility for the VOA to jointly finance a relay station in Hong Kong with the BBC. Mr. Muggeridge, the Managing Director, BBC External Services, had briefly mentioned this conversation to us. Mr. Dennay thought the proposal was "unrealistic" since he did not think VOA had sufficient funds and there might be "political" difficulties. It seems that VOA are anxious to find an alternative to their station in the Philippines in case there is political trouble in that country. We left it that there was no need to take action unless and until VOA made a formal approach.

WP.

3. I referred to the exchange of telegrams between Mr. Muggeridge and Mr. Scott in Hong Kong. I said I hoped that in future the FCO would be closely consulted about any approaches to the Hong Kong authorities. Mr. Dennay reminded me that the BBC had established direct contacts with Mr. Scott and others at the time of their technical survey in Hong Kong in mid-1980. He had gained the firm impression that the Hong Kong authorities would raise no objection to the Tsang Tsui site, although Mr. David Akers-Jones, Administrator of the New Territories, had said "No" to the Che Ha site on environmental grounds. I said that there were no doubt many hurdles still to surmount before any site could be chosen, involving political, technical and other considerations. But the very first hurdle was finance and we had no indication at present whether the proposed future capital programme would be accepted. I urged Mr. Dennay to consult us if there were any question of further surveys by BBC teams. He said there were no such moves in prospect and agreed that all depended on finance.

4.

Mr. Dennay then himself said he knew there was a GCHQ angle. He thought there need be no interference at their new site from the BBC's proposed site at Tsang Tsui. I made no comment but said this was just the sort of technical question which needed to be looked at before any further steps were taken. (It is useful that Mr. Dennay volunteered this observation, which should give CED useful entrée if and when they are required to go into more detail with the BBC.

7 May 1981

Copies to:

CODE 18-77

Lord N Gordon Lennox Mr Mills

KG Machalf.

K G MacInnes

Inf Dept G 3/3 233-4337

Mr McLaren (FED)

Mr Moss (PUSD)

Mr Castle-Smith (CED)

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