TNAG-1471-FCO40-2001-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 102

GRS 110

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 07110OZ FCO

TELNO 51

OF 071025Z JANUARY 86

Dhuma

7

Mi

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FROM

GOVERNOP

2

YOUR TELNO 13: MR RENTON'S VISIT

1 HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT THE IDEA OF MP RENTON TRYING TO FIT IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE AT 7 A.M. AT THE APPORT ON THE MORNING OF HIS DEPARTURE. THIS WOULD ALLOW AT MOST 30 MINUTES FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE, WHICH WILL BE INSUFFICIENT FOR THE INTEREST THERE WILL BE IN HIS VISIT. THE FACILITIES AT THE AIRPORT ARE ALSO INADEQUATE FOR THE INTEREST HIS PRESS CONFERENCE WILL GENERATE AMONG THE MEDIA. THE PRESS ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO ASK WHY HIS VISIT IS SO SHORT THAN SHOWING ANY UNDERSTANDING OF THE LACK OF FLEXIBILITY. THERE WAS DISGRUNTLEMENT HEPE WHEN LORD YOUNG (QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY) DECLINED TO COMMENT ON NATIONALITY AND SIMILAR ISSUES. THERE WILL BE MORE THAN DISGRUNTLEMENT IF MR RENTON, AS THE MINISTEP NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG AFFALPS, OFFERS THEM ONLY A TRUNCATED PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN HIS VISIT WILL FOLLOW TALKS WITH THE CHINESE IN PEKING AND DEBATES IN THE HOUSE ON THE BURNING ISSUE OF

NATIONALITY.

2. IF MR RENTON'S CONCERN IS TO HAVE ADEQUATE TIME FOR BRIEFING WE COULD FIT THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN AT, SAY, 6.30 IN THE EVENING.

YOUDE

LIMITED

FED

HKD

PROTOCOL D

NEWS D

PS | MR RENTON SIR W HARDING

HKK 02715

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

0 8 JAN 1986

INDLA

CONFIDENTIAL

RY