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the centre pages of, for example, the Daily Telegraph and the News
of the World.
similarly he would like us to get the Embassy in Washington to think about getting the right message through to the key bits of the
American media.
in the meantime, there will have to be some delay before further
repatriation of boat people from Hong Kong. This delay will also be
needed to work on the US Administration and on the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees.
A.
The news of the delay will be unwelcome to Hong Kong, for reasons which the Governor has elaborated in his discussions with
Mr Maude on 7 August. Our thinking will therefore need very
careful presentation. As a first step, and before the telegram
issues, the Governor himself should be informed.
I suggest that Mr Gillmore does this by telephone. He could take the opportunity
to explain some of the other elements which we have in mind for an
autumn package for Hong Kong.
5.
Whilst the Hong Kong Government will no doubt see the merits
of making a further attempt to win over the United States and the UNHCR, they will not be sanguine about the prospects of success.
It will be particularly important to reassure Hong Kong that there is no question of our allowing ourselves to be manoeuvred into a
position where the Americans in any sense have a right of veto over
our plans. The draft telegram seeks to bring this out.
6.
The
The other element in our plan is the media campaign. assistance of the Hong Kong Government, for example in identifying suitable authors of articles for publication in the UK press, would
be invaluable. The draft telegram underlines the importance of
getting the right message across to the UK and international media as well as to opinion formers generally.
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ARPane
A R Paul
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