TNAG-2038-FCO40-2902-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 158

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TELNO 1978

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PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD

026/3+86)

YOUR TELNO 2897: MINISTERIAL VISITS TO HONG KONG

1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON WAYS IN WHICH THE FORMAT OF THESE VISITS MIGHT BE IMPROVED. WE GENERALLY AGREE WITH YOUR

SUGGESTIONS.

PRESS ARRANGEMENTS.

2. WE SHARE SOME OF YOUR DOUBTS ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE. WE RECOGNISE THAT FEW VISITING MINISTERS HAVE EVER COME OVER PARTICULARLY WELL FROM TAKING ON THE HONG KONG PRESS IN THIS RATHER FORMAL AND ELABORATE FORM. AS YOU IMPLY, TOO OFTEN THE JOURNALISTS USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SCORE POINTS RATHER THAN TO ELICIT INFORMATION. AND IT DOES SEEM TO US THAT THE STANDARD OF BEHAVIOUR AND QUESTIONING HAS DROPPED RECENTLY.

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THERE ARE, HOWEVER, AT LEAST TWO CARDINAL RULES FOR A SUCCESSFUL PRESS CONFERENCE: A GOOD NEWS STORY AND A SESSION THAT DOES NOT GO ON TOO LONG. A GOOD NEWS STORY - LAID OUT IN AN OPENING INTERVENTION IS CRUCIAL, FOR THIS SETS THE TONE AND INTEREST OF THE OCCASION. IT MEANS THAT THE MINISTER CAN DOMINATE THE HEADLINES WITH WHAT HE WANTS TO PUT ACROSS AND IT GIVES HIM SOMETHING TO REVERT TO IF THE QUESTIONING GETS TRICKY. AND, IF THERE IS A GOOD STORY, THEN THE PRESS CONFERENCE CAN BE HONOURABLY WOUND UP BEFORE THE QUESTIONING SLIDES OFF INTO PERVERSITY AND TROUBLE-MAKING.

4. IT IS PROBABLY FRUITLESS TO EXPECT A VISITING CABINET MINISTER TO BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITHOUT A FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE. CERTAINLY, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY WILL EXPECT TO GIVE ONE AND MAY WELL HAVE THINGS TO SAY ON NON-HONG KONG SUBJECTS. FOR JUNIOR MINISTERS, THE DECISION MUST REST ON WHETHER THERE IS SOMETHING NEW AND INTERESTING TO SAY.

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