TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 18

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ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL PRACTICE.

4. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL NOT NORMALLY MAKE FORMAL

STATEMENTS TO THE PRESS OUTSIDE THE ARRANGED PRESS CONFERENCE.

BUT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO BE WARNED IN ADVANCE OF ANY

OCCASIONS ON THE PROGRAMME WHEN HE IS LIKELY TO BE DOORSTEPPED.

5. THE ACCOMPANYING PRESS WILL WISH TO TRAVEL WITH THE

SECRETARY OF STATE ON VISITS OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL. THEY WOULD

ALSO HOPE TO BE INCLUDED IN ANY RECEPTIONS WHERE THIS IS

APPROPRIATE (THOUGH THIS SHOULD NOT BE ARRANGED IF THERE IS

ANY RISK OF OFFENDING LOCAL SUSCEPTIBILITIES). THEY WOULD

CERTAINLY VALUE AN INFORMAL BRIEFING ON THE HOST COUNTRY BY

THE EMBASSY FAIRLY EARLY AFTER ARRIVAL, IF THIS COULD BE

ARRANGED. BUT IT SHOULD PREFERABLY NOT CLASH WITH ANY BRIEFING

FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE, SINCE I OUGHT TO ATTEND BOTH.

6. WE DO NOT USUALLY PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES FOR

THE ACCOMPANYNG PRESS. I ASSUME THAT THERE WILL BE ADEQUATE

FACILITIES IN THE HOTEL WHICH THEY USE IN SEOUL AND TOKYO.

BUT PEKING MAY WISH TO SUGGEST THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

SHOULD PROVIDE TELEX AND TELEPHONE FACILITIES IN A MINI PRESS

CENTRE AT THE HOTEL. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MFA PROVIDED

THESE FACILITIES AND INTERPRETERS DURING THE PM'S TRIP AND THAT THIS PROVED EXTREMELY USEFUL. THE JOURNALISTS WILL BE

CARRYING ITU CARDS. (WE PROVIDE COMPARABLE FACILITIES ON A

RECIPROCAL BASIS WHEN THE PRESS ACCOMPANY VIPS TO LONDON.)

7. I REALISE THAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFERENT IN HONG KONG.

BUT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF JOHNSTON (GIS) WOULD BEAR IN

MIND PARAS 2 5 ABOVE.

HOWE

reties!

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