CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 2897
OF 281058Z SEPTEMBER 90
CONFIDENTIAL
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
VISIT BY LORD CAITHNESS TO HONG KONG
·
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
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