TNAG-1990-FCO40-2823-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 71

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046011 MDHIAN 7201

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 928

OF 17110OZ MARCH 89

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

BBC RELAY STATION IN TSANG TSUI

THERE IS A FRONT PAGE STORY IN TODAY'S HK STANDARD UNDER THE HEADLINE CHINA WANTS BBC RELAY OUT BY 1997''. THE PAPER CLAIMS TO HAVE LEARNT THAT CHINA HAS TOLD THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OF ITS INTENTION TO STOP THE STATION OPERATING AFTER 1997. THE ARTICLE GOES ON TO QUOTE ''AN INFORMED SOURCE'' AS SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE ILLOGICAL FOR A SOVEREIGN STATE TO ALLOW SUCH A STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY OWNED BY A FOREIGN COUNTRY TO STAY. FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE BEING FAXED SEPARATELY.

2. FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY APPROACH BY THE CHINESE ON THIS MATTER AND HAVE NO IDEA AS TO THE ORIGIN OF THE REPORT. INVOLVEMENT OF THE HKG IN THE RELAY STATION HAS BEEN LIMITED

TO:

(A) THE PRIVATE TREATY GRANT OF THE LAND ON WHICH THE STATION STANDS TO THE BBC EAST ASIA RELAY COMPANY LIMITED IN NOVEMBER 1985: AND

(B) THE GRANTING BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, UNDER THE TELECOMMUN- ICATION ORDINANCE, OF A LICENCE FOR THE OPERATION OF THE STATION.

BOTH THE LAND LEASE AND THE TELECOMMUNICATION LICENCE EXPIRE IN JUNE 1997.

3. AS REGARDS (A) THE PRIVATE TREATY GRANT FALLS INTO THE ''OTHER USES'' CATEGORY OF LEASES FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES. IT HAS BEEN AGREED IN THE LAND COMMISSION THAT THIS CATEGORY OF LEASE MAY NOT BE EXTENDED WITHOUT THE PRIOR AGREEMENT OF THE COMMISSION.

LINE TO TAKE

4. PETER TSAO WILL PHONE JOHN TUSA THIS EVENING (HK TIME) TO SEE WHAT LINE, IF ANY, THE BBC WOULD WISH TO TAKE. WE WILL THEN DEVELOP OUR OWN LINE. FOR THE PRESENT WE ARE ONLY CONFIRMING THAT BOTH THE

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