TNAG-1556-FCO40-2120-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 14

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COMMS OFFICE REG NO. D.T.R: 9th May, 1984 0915HRS

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING 090005Z MAY 84

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 874 OF 8 MAY

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG

48

YOUR TELNO 475: BBC FAR EASTERN RELAY STATION IN HONG KONG 1. AN ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY CHINESE ATTITUDE NOW TO THE EXISTANCE OF A RELAY STATION AFTER 1997 CAN ONLY BE SPECULATIVE. ANY ASSESSMENT OF THEIR LIKELY ATTITUDE IN 1997 MUST, (NEXT TWO WORDS UNDERLINED) A FORTIORI, BE EVEN MORE SPECULATIVE. MY BEST ESTIMATION IS THAT THE CURRENT ATTITUDE OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE NOT TO RAISE OBJECTION. I SAY THIS BECAUSE:

(A) BOTH THE BBC WORLD AND VERNACULAR SERVICES CAN BE PICKED UP HERE NOW AND THERE IS NO ATTEMPT TO JAM THEM SEMICOLON (B) AT PRESENT THE BBC'S RELATIONS WITH THE CHINESE ARE GOOD SEMICOLON

(C) AT THE TALKS DINNER AFTER THE 14/15 NOVEMBER ROUND LU PING REMARKED, WHEN ASKED IF HE LISTENED TO THE BBC, THAT THE NOW RELAY STATION IN HONG KONG WOULD IMPROVE ITS RECEPTION ON THE MAINLAND. I DOUBT WHETHER HE WOULD HAVE MADE THIS NEUTRAL REMARK IF THE CHINESE HAD DISLIKED THE PLAN FOR THE STATION. (EHRMAN PASSED THIS POINT TO HARDING, HEAD OF THE BBC CHINA SERVICE, IN PEKING ON 19 NOVEMBER).

A: S(GD)(5)

D: HE, CS,CBF, FS, AG,P4(2), PS/GH(PERSONAL COVERS)

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