TNAG-2275-FCO40-3274-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-1991 — Page 83

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DRAFT LETTER TO KEVIN SINCLAIR

Thank you for your fax of 8 February.

I agree entirely with you that the people of Hong Kong are naturally interested in the views of UK Ministers with responsibility for Hong Kong. The question is not whether

the views should be expressed but which channels to use in

the light of circumstances prevailing at the time.

In the case of my own recent visit to Hong Kong we retained

the option of a press conference until very late in the

programme but eventually decided that briefings would

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probably be best not least because of my experience on the Thursday night when a large press gathering had only one question.

There seems to be some misunderstanding over the briefings. We took a great deal of care over the media and I can assure

you that local journalists were not overlooked. I spent almost an hour with 11 editors from leading newspapers.

Let me know the next time you come to the UK and we can try to arrange an interview.

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