RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2559
OF 04110OZ JULY 88
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, HANOI
RESTRICTED
HRB
REC
قدر
02711
4 JUL 1988
166
022054
MDLIAN 0113
MEDIA COVERAGE OF LORD GLENARTHUR'S VISIT
SUMMARY
1. THE MEDIA GAVE SUBSTANTIAL COVERAGE TO THE VISIT OF LORD GLENARTHUR, PARTICULARLY HIS PRESS CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON RADIO AND FEATURED EXTENSIVELY IN TV AND PRESS. REPORTS
AND COMMENT FOCUSSED ON THE ISSUE OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. THERE
WAS ALSO GOOD COVERAGE OF HIS COMMENTS ON THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT.
DETAIL
2. REPORTS HIGHLIGHTED LORD GLENARTHUR'S STATEMENT THAT THE UK WAS
REVIEWING ALL ASPECTS OF THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AND THAT MORE
RESETTLEMENT IN THE UK WAS ONE OPTION. HE WAS ALSO QUOTED AS SAYING
THAT THE UNHCR SHOULD BEAR A GREATER SHARE OF THE COST OF THE UPKEEP OF VIETNAMESE, THAT HE HAD DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG AND THAT HMG HAD EXPLAINED THE NEW SCREENING POLICY TO OTHER COUNTRIES. WEN WEI PO HEADLINED THE POINT THAT HE HAD RAISED THE QUESTION OF ''SUPPLY POINTS'' ALONG THE
SOUTH CHINA COAST WITH PEKING OFFICIALS. COMMENTARIES ALSO FOCUSSED ON THE QUESTION OF BOAT PEOPLE, WITH THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST CALLING FOR THE UK TO INCREASE ITS RESETTLEMENT QUOTA.
3. THERE WAS ALSO COVERAGE OF THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT WHICH
NOTED LORD GLENARTHUR'S COMMENT THAT THE NEW DCA WAS ADVANTAGEOUS
TO HONG KONG AND NOT UNFAIR. THE PRESS ALSO PICKED UP THE POINT THAT IN REJECTING CALLS FOR A SLIDING SCALE OF PAYMENTS, HE SAID THAT WITH THE GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON, THE OVERALL COSTS WOULD DROP. HOWEVER, THE PRESS CONTINUED TO QUOTE A VARIETY OF OTHER
INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS AS CALLING FOR SUCH A SLIDING SCALE OF
PAYMENTS.
4. THE QUESTION OF TREATMENT OF HONG KONG VISITORS BY BRITISH
IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WAS COVERED BUT NOT HIGHLIGHTED.
SURPRISINGLY IN VIEW OF THE DEGREE OF LEGCO CONCERN, THE SUBJECT WAS
NOT RAISED AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
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