TNAG-1983-FCO40-2816-Presentation-of-UK-policy-on-Hong-Kong-to-the-media-1989 — Page 92

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From: RJT McLaren

Miss Ma

R1722

Date:

Cc:

Mr Wooth Y

W/3

Mr Fothan 213

27 February 1989

PS

PS/Lord Glenarthur PS/PUS

Mr Gillmore

Mr Paul, HKD

Mr Whitehead, News Dept

Mr Burns

Enter

Tpa. Poling

Presentatio

News Department

YES

UK PRESS REPORTING ON HONG KONG

1. Sir Percy Cradock telephoned this afternoon about the leading article in this week's Economist ("Hong Kong's Last Chance"). He thought it one of the worst to appear so far (I agree). If we thought it would help, he was prepared to join in our efforts to get the Economist and other papers to take a more reasonable line on Hong Kong. I said we had none of us had any success with the Economist (I had supplied Mark Schreiber with material about the Basic Law only last week, but it had not done any good). It might be that that particular journal was incorrigible. But we should go on trying, and I was sure that Sir P Cradock would give us greater fire-power.

2.

Perhaps you could now consider a lunch for the Economist to include Sir P Cradock. In the meantime, I shall be taking Mr Pauley and Ms McDougall of the Financial Times to see him tomorrow, 28 February. And Mr Whitehead will explore whether Sir P Cradock would be free to attend the planned lunch with the Daily Telegraph next week.

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R JT McLaren

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