CONFIDENTIAL
[Part of submission to No 10 prior to thang ]
28+ July
Koup meeting on 28+
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PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE FAR EAST: PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
China and Japan
1. Normal arrangements (eg group interviews with journalists
from each country) could apply.
Hong Kong
2. Given delicacy of question of future of Hong Kong,
arrangements should be more restricted. General press
briefing would of course need to say that Hong Kong would
be among subjects to be discussed in China, and that the
Prime Minister would let people in Hong Kong know how her
talks in Peking had gone.
3.
However, advance interviews with Hong Kong media would
be risky. Future would be bound to come up. It would be
difficult for the Prime Minister to have any discussion of
substance without indicating elements in the British
position. The Governor has pointed out that this could
prompt the Chinese to declare their position publicly in
advance of the visit. This happened before Lord Carrington's
This would make it more difficult to
visit in April 1981.
move the Chinese in subsequent discussion from a line which
they would feel bound to maintain.
4. If pressure for interviews with Hong Kong journalists,
radio or TV becomes irresistible, suggest this should be
allowed only on basis of advance submission of questions.
CONFIDENTIAL
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