RESTRICTED
HKB 026/3
RECEIVED.
0 8FEB 1990
87
025316
MDHIAN 2845
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 227
OF 17113OZ JANUARY 90
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
INFO PRIORITY HKGO LONDON, PEKING,VUKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD
VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE: MEDIA COVERAGE IN HONG KONG
SUMMARY
THERE WAS PROMINENT AND POSITIVE NEWS AND PICTORIAL COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE VISIT IN BOTH THE PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON 16 JANUARY WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON RADIO AND TV. THE REMARKS ON POLITICAL REFORM, VBP AND NATIONALITY PACKAGE WERE ALL PROMINENTLY COVERED. THE MESSAGE OF UK BEING THE SOVEREIGN POWER IN HONG KONG DURING THE RUN UP TO 1997 CAME THROUGH CLEARLY. VISIT GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS TIMELY AND SEEN AS AN EFFORT TO RE- ESTABLISH HONG KONG PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE.
DETAIL
2, THERE WAS PROMINENT AND EXTENSIVE NEWS AND PICTORIAL COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE VISIT. THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL PRESS PRESENCE AT EACH STAGE OF THE ITINERARY. COVERAGE WAS PARTICULARLY HEAVY DURING THE TRIP TO HEI LING CHAU DETENTION CENTRE. THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE FINAL DAY WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON TVB PEARL AND ON RTHK RADIO 3.
3. THE COVERAGE WAS GENERALLY POSITIVE. MEDIA PRESENTATION SHOWED THE SECRETARY OF STATE COMING ACROSS AS OPEN AND FRANK. HE WAS SEEN TO HAVE A GOOD GRASP OF ALL THE MAJOR ISSUES FACING THE TERRITORY.
COMMENTARIES
4.
THE VISIT ATTRACTED OVER 30 EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARIES. MANY WERE DESCRIPTIVE, SETTING OUT THE PROBLEM AREAS FACING HONG KONG AND BRITAIN IN DISCHARGING ITS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE TERRITORY. SOME FOCUSSED ON SPECIFIC ISSUES, SUCH AS POLITICAL REFORM AND
NATIONALITY.
5. WAH KIU YAT PO AND SING TAO JIH PAO (BOTH 13 JANUARY) SAID THE FACT-FINDING VISIT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOWED THAT BRITAIN WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY HONG KONG AND HAD DECIDED TO SEEK A SOLUTION TO THESE. WAH KIU ASKED THE SECRETARY OF
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