CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 026/9
RECEIVED
REGISTRY
13 NOV 1990
27
002350
MDLIAN 1701 .
TOP COPY Q DIST_?/
TO ROUTINE FCO
DESK
TELNO 3117
INDEX
OF 250915Z OCTOBER 90
FICER
REGISTRY
PA
Auton Taken
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
(26)
YRTELNO 1978: MINISTERIAL VISITS TO HONG KONG
*
1 I TAKE YOUR POINTS ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF EXPANDING THE FAREWELL AIRPORT SESSION WITH THE PRESS AND AM PERFECTLY CONTENT TO TAKE A FLEXIBLE APPROACH TO THE QUESTION OF A PRESS CONFERENCE FOR FUTURE VISITS BY LORD CAITHNESS. (I HAD NOT INTENDED TO SUGGEST THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD NOT HOLD ONE). WE CAN CERTAINLY LIMIT PRESS CONFERENCES TO HALF AN HOUR BUT CANNOT, AT LEAST AT THIS END, GUARANTEE THAT THE MINISTER WILL HAVE A GOOD NEWS STORY. THAT WILL BE VERY MUCH A MATTER FOR YOU. NOR CAN WE PREVENT THE PRESS CONFERENCE BEING BROADCAST LIVE. THESE AFFAIRS ARE TREATED HERE WITH WHAT MAY SEEM QUITE DISPROPORTIONATE
SERIOUSNESS IN LONDON.
2. THERE IS NO DIFFICULTY IN REPLACING THE WIND-UP BRIEFING SESSION BY ANOTHER TYPE OF MEETING, OR IN SIMPLY GIVING THE MINISTER FREE TIME TO DISCUSS A LINE WITH YOU. NOR WITH SETTING UP A MEETING WITH LOCAL EDITORS. BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE
A CLEAR INDICATION OF WHAT YOU WANT ON THE PR SIDE WHEN WE START
TO PLAN THE PROGRAMME FOR EACH PARTICULAR VISIT. IT IS MUCH EASIER FOR US TO LEAVE SLOTS FREE, AND FILL THEM UP LATER ON, THAN TO DROP ITEMS ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN SET UP.
3. I WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY OF MORE TIME TO DISCUSS
MATTERS IN DEPTH WITH LORD CAITHNESS ON FUTURE VISITS. I ENVISAGE
THIS BEING RESTRICTED TO A VERY SMALL NUMBER ON THE HKG SIDE · EITHER MYSELF ALONE OR WITH THE CS AND FS. BUT THIS SHOULD BE ADDITIONAL TO, NOT INSTEAD OF, THE MEETING WITH A LARGER GROUP OF SENIOR OFFICIALS THAT TRADITIONALLY TAKES PLACE AT THE START OF
EACH VISIT. I ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE BOTH TO ALLOWING BRANCH SECRETARIES ACCESS TO THE MINISTER AND TO HIM BEING BRIEFED TO A WIDER RANGE OF ISSUES.
4. LORD CAITHNESS'S WISH TO SEE THE MTR AND GO ON A PATROL VESSEL
NOTED. EASY TO FIX.
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.