47
CONFIDENTIAL
HIK 306/1
Mry W. 51 98.51
0 4 SEP1981
Mr MacInnes, Information Dept Resty
INDEX
PA
мо
No / Mas
Action Taken
x.al Pais 7/9
BBC RELAY STATTUN IN HONG KONG
1.
Ministe vent to Mac forenes
Registy
29
Pl. attack ref
Mr Burgess sent me a copy of his minute of
28 August to Mr McQuade.
2.
Дізна
I can quite see that Ministers feel under an obligation to do what they can to persuade the Hong Kong government to help pay for the proposed relay station. But Lord Carrington has been careful, in his correspondence with the Chairman of the BBC, to refrain from endorsing Mr Howard's view as to the political advantages of the project. As you know, we have all along had doubts on
this score. Whatever certain Chinese officials may have ee (50)
said to Mr Howard and other BBC people (probably largely out of politeness) it is difficult to see how the siting of this station in Hong Kong could benefit Britain's or the territory's relations with China. The BBC enjoys, it is true, a good reputation in China for its impartiality and a great many more people would no doubt listen to its broadcasts if reception were improved. But we must face the fact that the BBC's Chinese language broadcasts at least would then be in competition with those of the official Chinese media (as well as with VOA etc). Chinese officials would be bound to pay more attention to the content of broadcasts which could be heard loud and cfear than they do to the BBC's present output. If they took exception to a particular programme or programmes the fact that the offensive material was being relayed from what they regard as Chinese territory would be a complicating factor. So there is a risk that the existence of the station could cause problems for our relations with China, and for Hong Kong. In present circumstances the risk is one we can probably accept. But it is no use pretending it is not there, and it would be increased if internal developments in China caused the regime to become less tolerant of Western broadcasts. The current tightening of ideological control in China may lead to greater sensitivity in this area.
3.
I should add that I had a word with Sir P Cradock about this when he came in to the Office last week. He had similar reservations.
4.
My understanding of the papers is that the government is not yet fully committed to the idea of a relay station in Hong Kong. Ministers need to know what sort of a contribution the Hong Kong government would be prepared to make before taking decisions, but I see no strong case for leaning
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