TNAG-2275-FCO40-3274-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-1991 — Page 34

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

HB 301/1

4 APR 1891

035401

MDHOAN 0735

}

TELNO 607

OF 28102OZ MARCH 91

INDE

·15

if

EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN BBC WORLD SERVICE AND RTHK

1.

WE HAVE BEEN CONSULTED ABOUT THE PROPOSED EXCHANGE OF

LETTERS TO COVER THE 24 HOUR RELAY OF THE BBC WORLD SERVICE IN ENGLISH TO RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE BBC REQUIRES THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S APPROVAL TO CONCLUDE SUCH AN AGREEMENT. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SIMILAR APPROVAL IS REQUIRED IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG BUT WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD CONFIRM WHETHER THAT IS CORRECT. IT WOULD IN ANY CASE, PRESUMABLY, ONLY BE NECESSARY FOR THE PERIOD BEFORE RTHK BECOMES AN INCORPORATED BODY INDEPENDENT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

2.

WE NOTE THAT THE AGREEMENT IS INTENDED TO RUN OVER 1997 UP TO 31 DECEMBER 1999. CAN WE TAKE IT THAT YOU SEE NO LIKELIHOOD OF THIS CAUSING A PROBLEM AS FAR AS THE CHINESE ARE CONCERNED?

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

31

LIMITED

HKD

INFORMATION DEPT PS/LORD CAITHNESS

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

31

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

MR BURNS

MISS SPENCER

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL