CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 23123OZ FCO
TELNO 1124
OF 231151Z APRIL 92
CONFIDENTIAL
HKA O10/1
39
124014
MDHIAN 1289
Regud
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR: MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS
1. WE HAVE BEEN GIVING SOME THOUGHT TO WHAT ADVICE WE MIGHT OFFER ON HOW TO RESPOND TO THE INEVITABLE CLAMOUR FOR PRESS CONFERENCES AND INTERVIEWS ONCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE ON WHO IS TO BE MY SUCCESSOR. THERE IS CERTAIN TO BE IMMEDIATE AND INTENSE PRESSURE FROM THE PRESS CORPS HERE. WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT HOW WE INTEND TO HANDLE IT.
2. YOU WILL KNOW FROM OUR RECENT REPORTING THAT THE TONE OF PRESS COMMENT ABOUT THE PROCESS OF SELECTING MY SUCCESSOR HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CRITICAL. WE NEED TO DO OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT THE POST-ANNOUNCEMENT PRESS ARRANGEMENTS DEFUSE RATHER THAN COMPOUND THIS CRITICISM. IN PRACTICE, THIS WILL MEAN GIVING THE HONG KONG PRESS CORPS EARLY AND, IF NECESSARY, PRIORITY ACCESS TO WHOEVER IS APPOINTED.
3. THERE IS A GENERAL EXPECTATION HERE THAT THERE WILL BE A SATELLITE PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE DAY OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. THIS ASSUMPTION IS BASED ON THE PRECEDENT ESTABLISHED BY SIR EDWARD YOUDE AND CONTINUED WHEN I WAS APPOINTED IN JANUARY 1987. IN MY CASE, THE HALF HOUR PRESS CONFERENCE WAS CARRIED LIVE BY ALL OF THE TV AND RADIO STATIONS DURING THE EVENING PEAK PERIOD. THIS WILL GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF THE IMPORTANCE WHICH WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN HONG KONG AND WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN ON HOW TO GET IT RIGHT.
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4. IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES I DOUBT WHETHER THE SATELLITE PRESS CONFERENCE APPROACH IS FEASIBLE. IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 72 HOURS TO SET UP A SATELLITE LINK. IF WE CANNOT BE SURE OF HAVING THAT AMOUNT OF NOTICE WE WILL NEED TO FALL-BACK ON MORE ORDINARY PRESS ARRANGEMENTS. IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE IMPORTANT THAT THE HONG KONG MEDIA IS GIVEN EARLY ACCESS TO MY SUCCESSOR AND THAT THEY SHOULD NOT FEEL IN ANY WAY DISADVANTAGED. IT WOULD BE BEST TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HONG KONG STRINGERS TO SPEAK TO HIM BUT ALSO TO
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