TNAG-1077-FCO40-1327-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-BBC-relay-station-1981 — Page 125

see

Lord N Gordon Lennox

CONFIDENTIAL

MKCK 3061

RECATVED

to Scarle.

RESTRY NO. 51

1 3 MAR 1981

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

مند

0213.2

Plan 1312

دل

BBC EXTERNAL SERVICES DRAFT

-

PAPER HONG KONG.

1. I have discussed Sir E. Youde's query about Hong Kong with FED and HKGD. As a result I recommend that the following passage in brackets should be added to paragraph 3 of the draft OD paper:-

2.

"(to be reviewed in the light of any developments over the future of Hong Kong post-1997 when the lease on the New Territories expires)".

I had considered the idea of placing this in a footnote to the statistical table where the Hong Kong project is mentioned. Alternatively we could have referred to "a proposed relay station in the Far East" throughout. However I think both these approaches would be disingenuous since Ministers are bound to ask where exactly the proposed station is to be. Moreover there could be confusion with the present "Far Eastern Relay Station" based in Singapore.

3. HKGD tell me that it is their policy not to say anything which would impair confidence in Hong Kong by implying that things would be different post-1997. But in a confidential document like this they agree that a marker could be put down.

4 March 1981

Copy to:

Mr McLaren (FED) Mr Morrice (HKGD)

K&Müclunes.

K G MacInnes

Information Department

CONFIDENTIAL

4