side copy
to Burns, Crystal.
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23/Land Caithnes
~HKD 026 115 FER 1001
RECEN
INDI
DES
2 5FEB '991
FROM: A R Paul
'DATE : 14 February
1991
CC : Mr Crystal, News Dept
Mr Burns
LETTER FROM KEVIN SINCLAIR
1. I think we need to be particularly careful about how to reply to Mr Sinclair's complaint. He is very likely indeed to publish the reply or to make use of it in his column.
2. I was not of course on the spot at the time, and you probably have a better feel than I about how to deal with Mr Sinclair. But I would venture to suggest a somewhat briefer reply along the following lines :
4.
"I am sorry that you were disappointed about the absence of an eve of departure press conference. I thought about this very carefully and decided that on balance it would be better to vary the format on this occasion. I therefore made time for two separate briefing meetings with a number of journalists, both British and local
I hope and believe that all concerned found the briefings useful and informative. In deciding whom to invite to these briefings, we and the Hong Kong Government tried to ensure that there was a
representative cross-section present. I repeat, local journalists were not overlooked; 11 leading local newspapers were represented.
I would of course be happy to try to arrange an interview with you in the future, either in Hong Kong or when you are next in the UK."
It is also for consideration whether the reply should go from Lord Caithness or the Private Secretary. There may be some advantage in the latter.
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96
AR Paul
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