TNAG-1985-FCO40-2818-Presentation-of-UK-policy-on-Hong-Kong-to-the-media-1989 — Page 44

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Cables Britinform New York Telephone (Code 212) 752-8400

I R Whitehead Esq

News Department

FCO

London SW1

Your reference

Our reference

Date

9 June 1989

Dead lan

NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL ON KONG KONG

1.

SEE 109 110

I enclose a hard hitting editorial in the New York Times today. It contains some highly contentious asser- tions and I think we should ask for a right of reply. The best form this could take is an op-ed by the Secretary of State, on the lines of his reply of 22 January to the editorial ("Maggie's Hour") in the Wall Street Journal. It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks for the New York Times to

We could print either an op-ed or a letter to the editor. do the letter but it would have much less effect than an op-ed under the Secretary of State's name. I enclose an op-ed by Dudley Fishburn MP which also appeared in the New York Times today. Though not particularly well written it will give you an idea of the style and length (usually 750 words) of a typical op-ed.

2. While the FCO for the reasons you explained to me were reluctant to respond to the Ching article in the Wall Street Journal (my letter of 19 April) an editorial in the New York Times is a quite different matter. Needless to say there has been extensive reporting and some editorial- ising on Hong Kong over the last few weeks in the US press and on radio/TV but this particular editorial strikes me as being one of the worst. I realise that how we respond to the passport holders question is politically very sensitive which is why I think we need the response to this point drafted in London.

I have not been able to consult the Embassy today as they are closed for the Queen's Birthday but I suspect they will support this recommendation.

3.

Yours ever

David

CC:

A Paul Esq, Hong Kong Dept

DR Snoxell

RD Clift Esq, Political Adviser, Hong Kong K McGlynn Esq, HK Economic Office, NY

F Cornish Esq, Washington

P Ricketts Esq, Washington

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