TNAG-2275-FCO40-3274-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-1991 — Page 7

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Mr Harris

Miss Spencer

PS/Mr Lennox-Boyd

PS

ри.

par Media

48

From: C J Ingham

MAB. 301

Information Department

Date: 17 April 1991

кр

cc: PS/Lord Caithness

Mr Burns

Miss Saunders, HKD

Mr Parker, Legal Adviser

BBC WORLD SERVICE RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG (RTHK)

Problem

1.

Should the Secretary of State give his approval to the BBC World Service to enter into an agreement with the Recreation and Culture Branch of the Government Secretariat, Hong Kong, to indemnify Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) against any claims arising from RTHK's

rebroadcasts of BBC World Service programmes?

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that the Secretary of State should do so. Hong Kong Department and Legal Advisers concur.

Background

3.

Since January 1990, the BBC World Service in English has been relayed on medium wave by RTHK throughout the colony for 24 hours a

day.

The Recreation and Culture Branch of the Government

Secretariat, which is responsible for broadcasting in Hong Kong, has requested an exchange of letters with the BBC to indemnify RTHK against any liability arising from this rebroadcasting. The