TNAG-1890-FCO40-2683-Visits-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe-and-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretaries-1989 — Page 103

RESTRICTED

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RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 26010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1339

OF 241515Z JUNE 89

AND TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG

HKB026/20

FROM HEAD OF NEWS DEPARTMENT

Elar PA

044426

MDHOAN 3825

VISIT OF SECRETARY OF STATE:

2

-

4 JULY: PRESS ARRANGEMENTS

1. FROM THE MEDIA POINT OF VIEW THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGING

VISIT. THE INTEREST IN THIS VISIT AMONG THE BRITISH PRESS IS

INTENSE. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THE LOBBY AND DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENTS IN MIFT WILL BE TRAVELLING OUT FROM THE UK. THERE MAY BE OTHERS.

2.

WHITEHEAD WILL MAKE IMMEDIATE CONTACT WITH GIS ON ARRIVAL AND WILL BE IN TOUCH ALSO WITH POLITICAL ADVISER AND MR HEAP. WE

SHALL WANT TO TREAT THE HONG KONG AND BRITISH PRESS (PLUS THOSE FROM THE US AND OTHER THIRD COUNTRIES) EVEN-HANDEDLY, BUT THE

BRITISH JOURNALISTS WILL BE ACCUSTOMED TO PREFERENTIAL

UNATTRIBUTABLE BRIEFINGS AND ATTENTIVE MEDIA CHOREOGRAPHY WHICH WILL NEED CAREFUL PREPARATION.

3. MY TASK WILL BE TO KEEP THE BRITISH PRESS (VISITING AND

LOCAL) AS UP TO DATE AS POSSIBLE ON WHAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE

IS DOING, SEEING, SAYING AND HEARING. I SHALL THEREFORE NEED TO

KEEP CLOSE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT ALL TIMES AND FOR ALL

EVENTS. I SHALL RELY ON WHITEHEAD AND GIS TO LIAISE WITH AND

ORGANISE THE BRITISH PRESS AND TO ADVISE ON HOW BEST TO INFLUENCE

THE HONG KONG PRESS. THE FOLLOWING POINTS WILL BE OF PARTICULAR

CONCERN:

A) ARRIVAL STATEMENT. THE SECRETARY OF STATE LIKES TO MAKE SUCH

A STATEMENT TO CAMERA SINCE IT HELPS TO SET THE TONE OF HIS VISIT FROM THE START. USUALLY HE DOES NOT (NOT) TAKE QUESTIONS, BUT WE SHALL BE OPEN TO ADVICE. THE HANDLING OF THIS MAY BE COMPLICATED

IF THERE ARE DEMONSTRATIONS OR THE HANDING OVER OF A PETITION, BUT IN PRINCIPLE THE ARRIVAL SHOULD BE OPEN TO ALL THE BRITISH AND LOCAL PRESS, INCLUDING ANY WHO HAVE ARRIVED ON THE SAME PLANE. THE COI OFFICER TRAVELLING WITH US WILL RECORD THE STATEMENT.

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