UKREP JLG
(Attn. Mr D G Martin)
PA SCR 8/1162/87 II (88
CONFIDENTIAL HKD 301/3
RE
3 AUG 1988
INL
FICE
British JLG Team Dealing with the Press
Many thanks for copying to me your letter of 17
July to Christopher Hum on this subject. I have discussed
with Barry Wiggham. The following represents our joint
comments.
27
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in laken
Aversit
2.
On paragraph 3 we entirely agree that we should
not get in the habit of concerting our press line with
the Chinese side. Such a move would be detected by the
press and would be bad for confidence.
3.
On the other hand the concerting of lines between UKREP JLG and the HKG is obviously a good thing. We
are very ready to discuss this at any time. We have
of course already let you have a set of our agreed press
lines on a variety of subjects. If new points or variations
arise we can always discuss how to tackle them.
4.
Our only other point is that after many years
we very frequently decline to comment on a range of questions
relating to JLG, falling back on the confidentiality
of matters under this heading. On the whole the press
have got used to this and accept now that there are subjects
about which we are not prepared to talk. I think a line
of this sort can be reasonably preserved while maintaining
relations with the press.
c.c. C O Hum Esq, HKD, F C O
Miss A Bailes, BE Peking S(GD)
(R D Clift) Political Adviser
21.7.88
CONFIDENTIAL
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