TNAG-2276-FCO40-3275-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-1991 — Page 72

CODE 18-77

Miss Emer Doherty, Hong Kong Dept

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BBC WORLD SERVICE: EAST AISA RELAY STATION, HONG KONG

1. You asked for background details on the BBCWS Hong Kong Relay Station.

2. The Station was opened in September 1987 at a cost of £10 million as part of a 10 year programme to improve World Service audibility worldwide. It consists of two 250kw transmitters which broadcasts World Service programmes on Short Wave into China, Japan and Korea. The Relay Station operates under a licence, issued by the Hong Kong authorities, which expires in June 1997.

3. There have been no discussions between the Chinese and the BBC or the FCO on the future of the relay station although there has from time to time been press speculation. A recent article in the Sunday Telegraph (attached) was a case in point. In the past, David Ford suggested the issue ought to be broached with the Chinese but then changed his mind. More recently Rachel Cartland, Deputy Secretary for Recreation and Culture, told the BBC she did not see merit in raising the issue just now. In essence, whilst there is an acceptance that the future of the relay station ought to be discussed with the Chinese (and secured), the time has never been right. In these circumstances our policy has been to keep it as low profile as possible and not draw any attention to the station which might cause the issue to become a matter of public speculation and prompt a negative reaction from the Chinese. We believe that our best prospects of retaining use of the relay station after 1997 would be if the BBC had been broadcasting successfully in Hong Kong for a number of years prior to that. We acknowledge that in due course we will have to discuss the subject with the Chinese but do not wish to do so until the time is right, politically, and until the relay station has become established and accepted by the Chinese.

4.

We agreed last year, as part of the Triennium negotiations with the BBC World Service, that Thailand provided the most promising location for a new relay station to serve the Indian Sub-Continent, South East Asia and the Far East. The facility could also act as a fall back for the Hong Kong Relay Station in the event of the Chinese closing it down. Ministers have approved funding for the acquisition of a site in Thailand but we have not yet committed ourselves to going ahead with a relay station there. We shall consider this in the light of the outcome of exploratory negotiations the BBC are now carrying out with the Thai authorities and following submission to the FCO of a fully costed plan.

5.

There has also been press speculation that transmissions from the relay station might interfere with aircraft using the proposed new airport in Hong Kong. The BBC do not think this

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