TNAG-1371-FCO40-1817-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 52

RESTRICTED

5. PRESS: MR LUCE'S VISIT TO THE BORDER, AND IN PARTICULAR THE POSSIBLE DELIVERY OF AID THERE, WILL BE OF INTEREST TO LOCAL BRITISH PRESS REPRESENTATIVES AND I SUGGEST WE SHOULD GIVE ONE OR MORE OF THESE (THE TIMES, TELEGRAPH AND GUARDIAN ARE ALL REPRESENTED) THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PRESENT. I DO NOT RECOMMEND A PRESS CONFERENCE AS SUCH IN BANGKOK, AS EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT ON SUCH OCCASIONS THE TURNOUT AND THE LEVEL OF QUESTIONS IS LIKELY TO BE DISAPPOINTING. :1 SUGGEST INSTEAD THAT, AFTEP RETURNING FROM THE BORDER, MA LUCE SHOULD MEET SELECTED BRITISH AND THAI PRESS REPRESENTATIVES, PREFERABLY IN TWO SEPARATE SMALL GROUPS (NO MORE THAN FOUR IN EACH). THIS COULD CONVENIENTLY BE DONE IN THE RESIDENCE.

6.

I WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE DETAILS OF MR LUCE'S PARTY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND IN PARTICULAR WHETHER HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY MRS LUCE. THIS WILL AFFECT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROPOSED DINNER OF 18 SEPTEMBER. IF MR LUCE IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, I SUGGEST A STAG DINNER AT THE RESIDENCE (WHERE WE CAN SEAT 221. IF WIVES ARE TO BE INCLUDED, IT WILL IN VIEW OF THE EXTRA NUMBERS INVOLVED BE NECESSARY TO GIVE THE DINNER AT A HOTEL (ESTIMATED COST ET 700 PER HEAD). I WOULD NEED AN AD HOC ADDITION TO FRAIS TO MEET THIS

EXPENDITURE.

STAPLES

LIMITED

SEAD

FED

MD'S MISS SECT

BIRS

Раменосе

MR WILSON

RESTRICTED