000
UK. REP.JLG, HK,
'90 10-16 9:25
CONFIDENTIAL
OFFICE OF THE BRITISH SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE, SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP
St John's Building
35 Garden Road
PO Box 528
Hong Kong
Telephone 5-8682171, 5-8682416, 5-3682431, 5-8682435
A R Paul Esq
Hong Kong Department
FCO
Dear Han
LORD CAITHNESS' VISIT TO HONG KONG
Your referen
PAC
Our reference
Date 16 October 1990.
L
1. 1 had not seen Hong Kong telno 2891 enclosed with your letter of 15 October, nor was I aware of the thoughts expressed in it.
2.
Hong Kong loves press conferences and generally gets them. There was considerable demand for Tim Sainsbury to give one for example and we obliged. I do not know how long the practice has been established, but as the Governor says it has become a "right of passage: Few FCO ministers in my memory (which goes back to 1985) have done themselves great favours by taking on the press in this way and most have been injured, some quite badly. visit can be wrecked right at the last.
A good
3.
How then to break the mould? I think to abandon press conferences for good would be unwise, but it should be the exception rather than the rule (perhaps reserved only for the Secretary of State). There would be much muttering and allegations of cowardice to begin with, but provided there were plenty of opportunities to speak to the press during the visit (which there always are), they would quickly get over it. In addition, the usual interviews with RTHK/BBC Radio and local television would provide good coverage. Mr Maude's meeting with editors after his visit to china was very well received and I had it in mind to suggest a repeat when Lord Caithness came again. would be against a session at the airport press centre as this would run the same risks one at Beaconsfield House, but an arrangement. on departure simila to that on arrival would be
fine.
I
Not having a press conference is in my view manageable and the value of other media opportunities would be greatly enhanced. But if we break the mould, we must be careful not to construct
4.
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another.
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