TNAG-1077-FCO40-1327-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-BBC-relay-station-1981 — Page 85

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CONFIDENTIAL

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CALL ON MR RIDLEY BY THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG : 22 JUNE 1981

Present:

Mr Nicholas Ridley MP

Mr RJ T McLaren

Mr R D Clift

Mr K D Temple

HICK

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Sir Murray Macles CBE KCMG KEvo 51

PROPOSED BBC RELAY STATION IN HONG KONG

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1. Mr Ridley referred to the exchange of telegrams and

Sir M MacLehose said that he correspondence on this subject. had written to the Governor of the BBC to clarify the position following their discussion in May. He had made clear that it was up to the FCO to pronounce on the importance of the project and to deal with the question of allocation of British Government funds. Any request for the Hong Kong Government to reserve sites for the

He had made clear relay station should also come from the FCO. that he would discuss the matter with the FCO and with them only.

2. Mr Ridley enquired whether the Hong Kong Government would be prepared to consider offering a contribution to the relay station in principle. At present no firm decision had been reached in London. It was not at the top of HMG's priorities. Obviously Hong Kong's readiness to contribute would make HMG keener. It might be put to the Hong Kong Government that the FCO believed that the relay station would be helpful to the stability and future confidence in the Territory.

3.

Sir M MacLehose said that the matter of cash would be in the

The allocation hands of the Legislative Council Finance Committee. of land was for the Executive Council. He thought that if HMG did decide that they wished to go ahead, it should be possible to arrange special terms on land involving either a nil or a very small premium. But it would not be convincing to tell the Finance Committee that HMG did not regard the project at present as important enough to warrant an allocation but that they would still like a Hong Kong contribution.

4. Mr Ridley said that it would thus be sensible for IIMG to assume that they would have to pay the cost of all the structures and installations. He asked the department to find out what the cost was likely to be and what the likely cost of land might be.

5. Sir M MacLehose commented that if the Secretary of State were to make a personal appeal for a contribution from Hong Kong on the basis that it would have a major effect on the question of the political future, this would obviously be treated very seriously. However, both he and Mr Ridley agreed that it was unrealistic to expect that a convincing case could be made on this basis.

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CONFIDENTIAL