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Mr. Brinton, an ex-BBC man, particularly favoured ending the Transcription Services. Mr. Ridley will see the other officers at 10 pm on 24 June and the full Committee whenever they
wish.
5. The BBC are likely to urge once more that savings be met by slippage of capital. projects. But this has gone on too long. It would be, better if they brought forward other capital projects to take the place of any which slipped.
6.
Mr. Howard wrote to the Secretary of State, on 13 June about the proposed Hong Kong relay station.. He is over-optimistic about the political and technical difficulties and under an illusion about Hong Kong's willingness to contribute land or money. In fact
the Governor told him that no recommendation would be made to the
Executive Council without advice from FCO. Mr. Ridley has told Mr. Muggeridge we will now consider the case for and against suggesting that Hong Kong contribute, but that this will takę time. The project is not due to begin until 1985, but might possibly be brought forward. Mr. Howard's remark in his letter that the expiry in 1997 of the New Territories' lease "is of little relevance to
the Peking Chinese" is a gross over-simplification. However advice from our posts is that we should not seek Chinese "permission" to
build the station.
7. Since becoming BBC Chairman in August 1980, Mr. Howard has made several trips abroad, including Hungary/Romania, Brazil/Peru and most recently (with the BBC Symphony Orchestra) China/Japan/ Hong Kong. Our posts report an impression of colourful eccentricity. Mr. Howard was displeased that his official host in China was unable to see him (this was probably because of a recent BBC film on Taiwan called "Another China").
KG Machines.
K G MacInnes
Information Department
23 June 1981
Copies to:
FA
PS/Mr Ridley PS/PUS
Lord N Gordon Lennox
HKGD
CONFIDENTIAL
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