TNAG-2038-FCO40-2902-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 170

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 2897

OF 281058Z SEPTEMBER 90

1/10

071037

In Whitehead New-J-MDLIÁN 4807

Mr Paul: HMD

peneral.

1. Pers Zagace - but 2 mpgest tos at the last- publi occasion of the misil shaved to sufficiently

прим central and public that the Minister can pend a bit langer - if he miles-iallingle the pas пирігатий.

hausting

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR 2. We need more time to go avillu vizues

with the boucanci abis daff. Otherwirl booth VISIT BY LORD CAITHNESS TO HONG KONG and the flunkie's riduų us into an exe

hut-inperficial nound of insider loureim!. 1. IT MIGHT BE USEFUL IF, WITH THE VISIT BY LORD CAITHNESS STILL REASONABLY FRESH IN OUR MINDS, WE THINK ABOUT CONTENT AND STRUCTURE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY LESSONS TO LEARN OR IMPROVEMENTS FOR NEXT TIME.

2. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE YOU LEFT, THE TWO MAIN POINTS WHICH STRUCK ME WERE:

I) PRESS CONFERENCE

=

WE SHOULD THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT THE VALUE OF THESE OCCASIONS. THEY HAVE COME TO BE SEEN AS SOME SORT OF MEDIEVAL, OR PREP SCHOOL, RITE OF PASSAGE. THERE IS NO SERIOUS EFFORT TO ELUCIDATE INFORMATION SIMPLY AN ATTEMPT TO FIND GOOGLIES TO BOWL AT THE MINISTER AND SEE HOW HE REACTS. SIMPLY HAVING NO MEETING WITH THE PRESS WOULD OF COURSE LEAD TO MEDIA COMPLAINTS WHICH COULD LEAVE THE MINISTER NO BETTER OF. AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH MIGHT BE TO HAVE A COMBINATION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDIA ACCESS, INCLUDING: A) BRIEF CHATS AFTER EACH SUBSTANTIVE ENGAGEMENT: B) AN UNATTRIBUTABLE DISCUSSION WITH SENIOR JOURNALISTS: AND C) EITHER A LONGER STAND-UP SESSION AT THE AIRPORT ON DEPARTURE OR A BRIEF SESSION AT THE AIRPORT PRESS CENTRE. TO THIS COULD BE ADDED A SPEECH AT E.G. A LUNCH IF THERE WAS AN IMPORTANT POLICY MESSAGE TO PUT ACROSS.

II) CIVIL SERVICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESSURE GROUPS

MINISTERS HAVE GOT INTO A PATTERN OF SEEING A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF LOBBYING GROUPS. THERE WERE CERTAIN HISTORICAL REASONS FOR THIS. BUT WE SHOULD AVOID IT BECOMING A REGULAR PATTERN. IN PARTICULAR, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE MINISTER NOT TO SEE CIVIL SERVICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS. DOING SO GIVES A FALSE IMPRESSION THAT FCO MINISTERS HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN STAFF PAY MATTERS. IT

1

PAGE

CONFIDENTIAL

пиз

i/k