GRS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 09120OZ FCO
TELNO 92
OF 09105OZ JANUARY 87
CONFIDENTIAL 40011
5
SHCEIVED IN REGISTRY
13 JAN 1987
R
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON..
TOP COPY ODIST ?
YOUR TELNO 40: ANNOUNCMENT OF NEW GOVERNOR: MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS
WE HAVE SOUNDED OUT THE TELEVISION STATIONS ON THE IDEA OF A SATELLITE-LINK PRESS CONFERENCE. THEY WARMLY WELCOMED THE IDEA AND INDICATED THEIR WISH TO TELEVISE THE CONFERENCE LIVE ON ALL FOUR CHANNELS, THEY HAVE SUGGESTED A TIME SLOT BETWEEN 1930-2000 HK TIME (1130-1200Z). THIS WOULD BE IDEAL FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT. WE WOULD STILL RECOMMEND THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT BE MADE AT 090OZ.
2. WE TAKE YOUR POINT ABOUT THE DESIRABILITY OF GETTING ADVANCE NOTICE OF QUESTIONS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE MEDIA WOULD REACT NEGATIVELY TO SUCH A REQUIREMENT, AND THIS THIS WOULD START THE NEW GOVERNOR OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT. THERE IS THE FURTHER PRACTICAL POINT THAT, IF WE WANTED 24 HOURS NOTICE OF QUESTIONS, WE SHOULD HAVE TO GIVE THE MEDIA MORE THAN 24 HOURS NOTICE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. THE MEDIA WOULD INEVITABLY USE ALL THE MEANS AVAILABLE TO THEM TO FIND OUT WHO THE APPOINTEE WOULD BE, AND THIS COULD CAUSE DIFFICULTIES.
3. WE WOULD PREFER TO WORK ON THE SUGGESTION IN YOUR TUR THAT WE ENCOURAGE THE PRESS TO ORGANISE LINES OF QUESTIONING AMONG THEMSLEVES. GIS CAN GET TOGETHER WITH JOURNALISTS ONCE NOTICE OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE HAS BEEN GIVEN (WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE A FEW HOURS BEFOREHAND) WITH A VIEW TO SOME STAGE MANAGEMENT TO AVOID THE SORT OF SITUATION YOU ENVISAGE.
4. WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON A LIST OF POSSIBLE QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTED ANSWERS. AS WELL AS A LIST OF QUOTE BULL POINTS UNQUOTE. INEVITABLY THE THRUST OF AT LEAST SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, AND THE FLAVOUR OF OTHERS, WILL DEPEND ON THE IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND OF THE APPOINTEE. WE WILL AIM TO TELEGRAPH THESE DESKBY 13090OZ. THE INITIAL LIST MAY OF COURSE NEED AMENDMENT DEPENDING ON WHO IS
TO BE THE NEW GOVERNOR.
5. FINALLY, I STRONGLY ADVISE THAT FOR LOCAL PRESENTATIONAL REASONS THE NEW GOVERNOR SHOULD SPEAK FIRST TO THE HONG KONG PRESS. OTHERWISE THE PRESS HERE WILL FEEL THAT THEY PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO THE UK PRESS WHEN THE GOVERNOR'S REAL INTERESTS ARE IN HONG KONG. THE LATER TIMING PROPOSED IN PARA. 1 ABOVE ALLOWS MORE TIME IN THE MORNING FOR PREPARATION (AND LAST-MINUTE CONSULTATION WITH HONG KONG IF NECESSARY) FOR THE SATTELLITE -LINK CONFERENCE, THE PROCEEDINGS OF WHICH WOULD BE A USEFUL PRELUDE
CONFIDENTIAL
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