TNAG-1233-FCO40-1546-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 86

SECRET

Mr

Donal

Donald

Mr. Roberts, Neund

of Thomson.

FED

040

Y NO.

1 2 JAN 1983

DESK OFFICEN INDEX

PA

M

FIE

Action

51

AFI8L

FUTURE OF HONG KONG BRIEFING SELECTED BRITISH CORRESPONDENTS

1.

As you are aware, we have been giving some thought (with FED, News Dept and Research Dept) to briefing a few selected British correspondents with a view to getting one or two articles produced which might counter elements of the Chinese campaign, help to correct Chinese misconceptions or distortions and perhaps make our own position eg on 'imperialism' clearer. Similiar exercises are being carried out in Washington and Hong Kong.

2.

are:

The correspondents we thought we would aim at here

Mark Schreiber The Economist

-

The Times

(a)

(b)

Richard Harris

(c)

Colina MacDougal

-

Financial Times

(d)

3.

Dick Wilson - ex FEER and China Quarterly

The Economist have already been given some material through other channels although I gather Mr Roberts (News Department) also has in mind a lunch with you and

Mark Schreiber.

Mr Thomson (FED) knows Richard Harris and plans to give him lunch in the next few weeks.

4.

5.

Mr Walker (Research Department) knows Colina MacDougal and Dick Wilson and would be happy to brief them, provided someone else eg from FED or HKGD, were also present.

6.

But before we proceed, it just occurs to me that you yourself might wish to see not only Mark Schreiber but also some of the others, particularly Dick Wilson. Perhaps you could let me know.

7 January 1983

W Morris

Hong Kong and General Department

K 221

SECRET

233 3722

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