TNAG-2191-FCO40-3128-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 6

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 06103OZ FCO

TELNO 830

OF 06100OZ MARCH 90

CONFIDENTIAL

HUCD 34014

нко

RECEIVED IN ZAGISTRY

1 1MAY 1990

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

2

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

(दिव)

626,11

031240

MDHIAN 9822

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

YRTELNO 504: VISIT TO LONDON: JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE

·

1 I AM GRATEFUL TO MINISTERS FOR TRYING TO THINK OF THINGS WHICH WOULD HAVE A BENEFICIAL PUBLICITY EFFECT. HOWEVER, I AM DOUBTFUL ABOUT THE USEFULNESS OF A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE. IT WOULD BE MOST UNUSUAL. SO FAR AS I KNOW IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. JOURNALISTS WOULD ASSUME THERE WAS SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO ANNOUNCE. WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THERE WAS NOT, THEY WOULD TEND TO CONCENTRATE ON PROBING FOR DIFFERENCES OF APPROACH BETWEEN LONDON AND HONG KONG. IN THE FEW AREAS WHERE THESE EXIST, THEY ARE EASILY MANAGED IN SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH THE PRESS. BUT TACKLING THEM ON A DUAL BILLING WOULD LEAD EITHER TO BEING BLAND OR FEEDING STORIES ABOUT DIVERGENCE.

2. THUS FAR I HAVE BEEN PRESENTING MY VISIT AS A ROUTINE ONE TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MINISTERS, SENIOR OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ETC (MY TELNO 720).

3. SEEN FROM HERE THERE IS NO PARTICULAR BENEFIT TO BE GAINED FROM A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE. THERE IS HOWEVER A SUBSTANTIAL POTENTIAL DOWN SIDE. IS THERE SOME POTENTIAL U K BENEFIT WHICH NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT E.G. ON THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE? IF SO WOULD IT BE HELPED BY ME JOINING THE MINISTER IN AN INFORMAL BACKGROUND BRIEFING OF SELECTED JOURNALISTS? AS YOU KNOW, I SHALL BE MEETING A SMALL NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS OVER LUNCH ON 9 MARCH BUT IT WOULD BE EASY ENOUGH TO RING THE CHANGES.

WILSON

YYYY

PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL