TNAG-2276-FCO40-3275-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-1991 — Page 65

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competitor to CNN (and to the officially subsidised French and German international TV broadcasting). This would be a significant

gain. We should do what we can to facilitate it.

6. It nonetheless seems to me that in seeking to oblige Hutchison

with a letter of comfort we must observe two principles:

i) avoid a direct equation of WSTV and the World Service, and of our relationship and commitment to each of them

ii) not to go further on behalf of WSTV than we should be prepared

to do, if asked, for any other reputable British venture (such as ITN's World Television News) in similar circumstances. Otherwise we

clearly risk attracting complaints that we are giving commercial

advantage to WSTV and contradicting our level playing field policy.

7. I shall have a shot at a draft. But in any case I assume you

will wish to discuss this and other, Hong Kong, aspects of how we

now take this matter forward.

RH G Davies

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