一
IN CONFIDENCE
Phillip Crawley Esq
Editor
South China Morning Post
GPO Box 47
HONG KONG
Der Phillis,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SWIA 2AH
7 July 1988
HKD 301/3
RECEIVE
-
REGISTRY
- 8 JUL 1988
DESK OFFICER
INDE
PA
ACTIVI
Y
into the
Thank you for your letter of 24 June, which I naturally read with some concern. I have looked various points raised in your letter and have discussed the situation with Bill Dickson.
Let me say straight away that Bill was perplexed and saddened to learn that David Wallen felt that there has been a lack of co-operation on the part of News Department. That was certainly not the intention and indeed Bill finds it difficult to understand how Mr Wallen could have gained such an impression.
We want to give Mr Wallen the best possible assistance. Bill tells me that he already speaks to your correspondent more often and at greater length than any other journalist interested in Hong Kong. Not surprisingly, Bill assumed that this assistance was appreciated and that their relationship was a good one. There is certainly no question of our trying to keep Mr Walker in the dark.
Turning to the three specific instances mentioned in your letter, I believe that we can provide you with explanations in each case:
I can
The proposed interview with Lord Glenarthur: understand that Mr Wallen may have been disappointed not to have been granted an interview with Lord Glenarthur before the Minister set off on his trip to China and Hong Kong. But it was felt that the Minister would have more to say to the media after his visit: it was for this reason alone that the request was turned down (as it would have been had any other journalist made such a request).
Sir Geoffrey Howe's pre-visit briefing: this was not a briefing for members of the lobby: the Foreign Secretary offered an unattributable briefing to editors
IN CONFIDENCE
©
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.