CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
ние 182/4
RECEIVED IN BEG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
20MAY 1991
TELNO 1535
OF 170624Z MAY 91
/19
035677 MDHIAN 7085
TOP COPY Q DIST?
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM CHIEF SECRETARY
LEAKS IN THE EXPRESS NEWSPAPER
.
1 AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED FOR SOME TIME ABOUT STORIES APPEARING IN THE EXPRESS NEWSPAPER REVEALING DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSITION TAKEN BY THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES ON THE AIRPORT.
2. DIS HAS RECENTLY TACKLED THE EDITOR ON THE SUBJECT WHO ADMITTED UNDER PRESSURE AND IN STRICT CONFIDENCE THAT HE NOW HAD A VERY GOOD LOCAL CHINESE GOVERNMENT SOURCE. WHEN ASKED WHY SOME OF HIS STORIES WERE BEING ATTRIBUTED TO BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND EXCO SOURCES THE EDITOR REPLIED THAT HE NEEDED TO PROTECT HIS CHINESE CONTACT BY 'SUITABLY CAMOUFLAGING THE SOURCE OF THE MATERIAL'.
3. THIS IS A PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY WAY TO RUN A NEWSPAPER BUT NOT UNTYPICAL OF THE PERSON CONCERNED. IT IS SOME COMFORT TO KNOW THAT THE STORIES ARE NOT ORIGINATING FROM OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SOURCES.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
LIMITED
HKD
EED
NEWS D
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38
DISTRIBUTION
38
PS
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL
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