TNAG-2277-FCO40-3276-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-1991 — Page 25

Mr Burns

CONFIDENTIAL

Низ за

FROM: P

DATE:

Ricketts

Hong Kong Department

15 November 1991

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ML GA dhr

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Tangela 18 15/11

CC:

PS/Lord Caithness

Mr Crystal

News Department

HONG KONG: REPLY TO SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST EDITORIAL

pa.

I attach JLG Hong Kong telnos 545 and 546, together

with a copy of the offending SCMP article.

1.

2.

I agree with Mr Galsworthy that we should not let this pass without comment. Martin Lee and others in LegCo are

bound to seize on it as part of their campaign to make HKG

more accountable to LegCo on JLG matters. We need to get

our own account on the record and Mr Galsworthy's draft provides a suitably trenchant way of doing so.

3. The vehemence of the SCMP leader illustrates again the depth of suspicion in Hong Kong about the JLG process and the hard slog we shall have to reach a more cooperative approach with the new LegCo to relations with China.

4.

I have discussed with Mr Tibber the question of

whether Lord Caithness should be consulted about the

proposed reply. Given that it does no more than set the record straight in factual terms, and the advantages of a

BENAHT/1

CONFIDENTIAL

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