TNAG-2024-FCO40-2886-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Commonwealth-countries-1990 — Page 78

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Ms Goglin ра

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CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 020/22

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FROM:

A R Paul

11 JUL 1990

Hong Kong Department

DATE:

27 June 1990

CC:

Mr McLaren

Mr Stitt, CCD

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Colvin, SEAD

Mr Whitehead, News Dept

Mr Buris

Ho Paul: HMD R+3Jvi

FORTHCOMING COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG: OCTOBER 1990

1.

Mr Jayanatha Rajepakse, Director of the Commonwealth Press Union, called on me last week to brief me about the Commonwealth Press Union's plans for its forthcoming Conference, which is to be held in Hong Kong from 15 - 17 October.

2.

As you may know, the CPU is an Association of about 500 newspapers and news agencies from some 30 Commonwealth countries. Its main aims are to promote the welfare of the press throughout the Commonwealth and to uphold the principles of press freedom and freedom of expression. The CPU meets biennially, and in different places on each occasion. Mr Rajepakse said that this would be the second time that Hong Kong had been chosen as the venue the 1974 CPU Conference was also held in Hong Kong. Mr Rajepakse explained that the CPU had been formed out of the former Empire Press Union in 1951: members had felt at that time that it was important that colonies/dependent territories

(most of whom have of course subsequently attained independence) should remain members. This included Hong

Kong.

3. Mr Rajepakse said that the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew had been invited to speak at the Conference, and had already accepted. He added that Lee Kuan Yew had had a long association with the CPU.

4.

Mr Rajepakse said that the Governor of Hong Kong, or in his absence the Chief Secretary, had agreed to inaugurate the Conference. A number of leading Hong Kong figures (he mentioned Martin Lee) would also be speaking.

5. Mr Rajepakse said he had been giving some thought to how HMG's point of view might be represented at the Conference. He had invited Mr Michael Mates MP (Conservative) to speak and this had been agreed in principle. In response to his

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