TNAG-1816-FCO40-2577-Media-in-Hong-Kong-Registration-of-Local-Newspapers-(Amendme-1988 — Page 94

3

(M)

South China Morning Post

HID 301/3

RECE

24th June, 1988

1 1 JUL 1988

DESAFICER

HOETRY

INDEX

PA

Action taken.

Mr Christopher Hum

Head of Department

Hong Kong Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Whitehall

London S.W.1

U.K.

Dear Christopher,

cc Mc

Отс

enter

W%

13/2

・Dickson (News Dept)

Me Hun is in Hong

I win

Kong this week. draft for his return. Any comment?

I am a good deal wiser about Hongkong and the South China Morning Post since we met with Nigel Wade in mid-February.

One of my first decisions on arriving here three months ago was to improve our representation in London, by appointing David Wallen (who had diplomatic and defence experience working for the London Daily News and the Press Association) as our correspondent. He has done so well

that we now want him to join the staff.

W 29%.

Now, to the point of my letter. I am hoping you can help me in gaining a better reception for Mr Wallen from the FCO.

He has complained several times of what he sees as a lack of co-operation, leading to missed story opportunities. I asked him for "chapter-and-verse" on his complaints, and he has now sent me a lengthy memorandum.

He was disappointed by his inability to gain an interview with Lord Glenarthur before his visit to China and Hongkong, despite repeated requests.

He was also omitted from a briefing given to members of the lobby by Sir Geoffrey Howe prior to his visit here.

Mr Wallen tells me he has tried to impress on Bill Dickson in the News department of the FCO that he would like to be included in any media releases or arrangements involving Hongkong and China.

I want to avoid a situation developing where Mr Wallen starts believing that it is the policy of the FCO press people to keep him "in the dark". The most recent incident which has given rise to this suspicion is that he had trouble

cont'd/2

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