TNAG-1990-FCO40-2823-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 66

CONFIDENTIAL

MED 32012

222

067612 MDLOAN 4000

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 721

OF 23114OZ MARCH 8

AND TO PRIORITY PEKING

19

OUR TELNO 693: BBC RELAY STATION

1.

THEY

WE FOLLOWED UP PARA 5 OF YOUR TELNO 928 WITH THE BBC. HAVE CONFIRMED THERE IS NO FORMAL UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CHINESE ON CONTINUED USE OF THE RELAY STATION AFTER 1997. BUT, AS INDICATED IN A WORLD SERVICE BROADCAST ON 17 MARCH ABOUT THE HONG KONG PRESS REPORT (TRANSCRIPT FOLLOWS BY FAX), THE BBC TELL US THEY GAVE THE CHINESE EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN THE MONTHS BEFORE THE RELAY OPENED IN 1987 TO EXPRESS A VIEW ON THIS QUESTION, INCLUDING APPARENTLY A DISCUSSION IN FRONT OF ZHOU NAN. THE BBC HAD FORMED THE CLEAR IMPRESSION THE CHINESE WOULD BE HAPPY FOR STATION TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS BEYOND 1997 AND THIS IS THE FIRST SUGGESTION SINCE THEN OF A POSSIBLE CHANGE IN CHINESE

ATTITUDE.

HOWE

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

75

L

ΜΑΙΝ

LIMITED

74

INFORMATION DEPT

HKD

FED

PLANNERS

PUSD

PS

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

PS/MR EGGAR

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR WATTS

MR MCLAREN

MISS PESTELL

PS/MRS CHALKER

ADDITIONAL

HKGO LONDON

NNWN

1

}