TNAG-1468-FCO40-1997-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1986 — Page 79

GRS 200

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2863

Confidential

TOP COPY @ DIST ?

OF 030955Z SEPTEMBER 86

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

EXCO VISIT TO LONDON: PRESS ARRANGEMENTS

THERE IS CONSIDERABLE INTEREST AMONGST THE HONG KONG MEDIA IN THE VISIT AND SOME SPECULATION THAT MAJOR STRATEGIC DECISIONS AS REGARDS THE FORM AND DIRECTION OF THE 1987 REVIEW ARE IN THE

OFFING.

2. WE UNDERSTAND THAT A NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS, INCLUDING A TVB CREW, ARE PLANNING TO GO TO LONDON. HINDICATIONS ARE THAT THE NUMBER WILL GROW OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THIS, COUPLED WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE LONDON-BASED HK STRINGERS, MEANS THAT A SHIZEABLE HK MEDIA PRESENCE MAY BE EXPECTED DURING THE VISIT.

3. GIVEN THE PRESSURE THAT THE HK PRESS CORPS WILL BE UNDER TO PRODUCE COPY, THE DELEGATION (AND MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS F THEY ARE CAUGHT) WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE SUBJECT TO A FAR AMOUNT OF THE USUAL HOUNDING AND DOOR-STEPPING. WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHETHER SOME SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE MEDIA BUT HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THIS WOULD BE HNAPPROPRIATE. HOWEVER, WE WONDER IF HIT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO ARRANGE A PHOTO CALL AT NO. 10 WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, SHMILAR TO THE ONE DURING UMELCO'S VISHT IN DECEMBER 1984.

4. THE HKGO LONDON WILL, AS USUAL, BE PROVIDING AS MUCH ASSISTANCE AS POSSIBLE AND THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (PAUL BROWN) WILL BE LEANSING WITH NEWS DEPARTMENT. AT THE HONG KONG END THERE WILL BE THE USUAL STAND-UP ARRANGEMENTS AT THE AIRPORT ON THE GOVERNOR'S

DEPARTURE AND RETURN.

YOUDE

HMLNAN 1404

NNNN

MINIMAL

HKO

NEWS.D.

INFO.D. FED

HRK 00615

RECEIVED

- 8 SEP 1986

D. K

INDES

AjB

COPIES TO"

HKGO

LONDON.

Confidential

70)