RESTRICTED
48963
-
-
DITCHE. HE SAYS THE ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS STORY IS NOT REMOTELY
LIKE THE REPORT HE GAVE THE PAPER, AND HE WILL BE TAKING THIS UP
WITH THEM. HE SAYS THAT IN HIS REPORT (WHICH HE HAD TO READ ON
TO A TAPE RECORDER, IN THE ABSENCE OF HIS USUAL ENGLISH
SPEAKING CONTACTS AT THE HONG KONG END) HE CONFINED TO THE NEWS
DEPARTMENT LINE DESCRIBED ABOVE, AND MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS
CAME FROM AN FCO SPOKESMAND SPEAKING UNATTRIBUTABLY.
4.
WE SUGGEST THAT, IF ASKED ABOUT THE ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS
REPORT, YOU SHOULD SAY THAT AN FCO SPOKESMAN, IN RESPONSE TO AN
APPROACH BY THE PAPER, SPOKE UNATTRIBUTABLY AS IN PARA 1 ABOVE.
YOU SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NO FCO STATEMENT, AND SAY
THAT EVERYTHING IN THE REPORT GOING BEYOND THE LINE DESCRIBED
ABOVE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ADDED BY THE PAPER IN HONG KONG.
5.
WE SUGGEST THAT PEKING SHOULD TAKE THE SAME LINE IF ASKED
ABOUT THIS REPORT BY THE CHINESE.
6.
SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, IT MIGHT ALSO BE USEFUL FOR THE
PA'S OFFICE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN TELLING NCNA WHAT HAS
HAPPENED.
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
SIR W HARDING MR WILSON
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
2. RESTRICTED
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.