TNAG-1891-FCO40-2684-Visits-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe-and-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretaries-1989 — Page 9

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From: R A Burns

News Department

Date: 28 June 1989

cc: Hong Kong Dept

Mr McLaren

Private Secretary

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG

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Problem

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1. Should the Secretary of State do any curtain-raiser interviews

before departure?

Recommendation

2. No, though the Secretary of State should be aware that this will intensify the clamour for interviews following his press conference

on Tuesday 4 July.

Argument

3. We have had bids for interview with the Secretary of State from the "Today" programme and "The World This Weekend" before departure for Hong Kong. There are likley to be others. It is also for

consideration whether the Secretary of State should do a

curtain-raiser with the World Service and COI.

4. These interviews would provide the Secretary of State with a

further opportunity to set out the Government's present position on Hong Kong and to outline the purpose of his visit. An interview

with the COI would ensure that the Government's views were carried

widely in the United States, one of the COI's principal targets.

5. The problem is that the Secretary of State has at present nothing new to say and there is a risk that people in Hong Kong will

realise this and question the value of his visit just before he gets

there. If as a result of meetings due to take place over the next

couple of days he does have something new to say it would be clearly