TNAG-1077-FCO40-1327-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-BBC-relay-station-1981 — Page 77

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because it would be equipped with a satellite feed. The BBC were

also about to second another technician to RTHK, which was virtually

run by BBC secondees. Mr Ridley said that, in trying to obtain a

Hong Kong Government contribution, we might be able to deploy two

arguments: -

(a) Hong Kongas domestic services would benefit;

(b) A better BBC service to China would induce a

better Chinese attitude to Hong Kong.

A.

The BBC should try to work up the first point, we would work up the

second. These could then be combined in a letter from the Secretary

of State to the Governor. Mr MacInnes reminded the meeting that

there were also certain technical problems concerning the proposed

relay station of which Mr Dennay was aware. Mr Dennay said that

the BBC's preferred site was also the one which the other interested

party would prefer them to use, but this was the one about which there

were local environmental difficulties. Mr Kark asked if there

would be any FCO objection to bringing forward the Hong Kong project.

Mr Ridley confirmed that there would be no objection, in principle,

as the programme as a whole had been approved.

13. Mr Muggeridge asked whether this meant that the BBC could work

to the total of the programme, not the details. Mr Ridley confirmed

that this was so.

14. Mr Muggeridge said that the BBC would be seriously handicapped

in helping overseas broadcasting services by the loss of the

Transcription Service. Mr Ridley reminded him that at the previous

meeting he (Mr Muggeridge) had said that the BBC would explore ways

of increasing the revenue of the Transcription Service. Mr Muggeridge

said thattther BBC would undoubtedly have made savings on the service,

but now it was not going to be given the chance. Nevertheless, the

service could never be self-financing, and the idea that it could

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CONFIDENTIAT

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