10.
CONFIDENTIAL
Public Relations (PR).
a. The Deputy Press Secretary provided an update on PR Issues. He stated that Press reaction to the 19 Jul 93 reductions announcement had been muted in HK and in UK. However, media interest would increase 1997 approached, and both BBC and Channel 4 TV intend to produce a series of documentaries on HK and the end of UK rule. He emphasised the need to retain an adequate number of well-qualified PR staff in HK to the end. CBF HK stated that this would be achieved, and is in any case under- written by the MOD document The Policy for the Rundown of HK to 1997'. DPR HK had already indicated that the current number of staff was adequate to cover the period to
1997.
b. CBF HK noted that the wording of the paragraph on PR responsibilities in the 2- Star draft of the MOD policy paper had been amended in the HODS draft to give the Press Secretary responsibility for overall PR/Pinfo direction in Hong Kong. CBF HK considered that this was not practical and that,
whilst
should retain responsibility for long term strategic and defence-related PR matters, CBF HK was better placed to provide day-to-day direction. He wished to place on record the HQBF preference for the original wording of the 2-Star paper.
C.
MOD
from CBF
In
HK,
Press Policy Group (PPG). response to a question Deputy Press Sec stated that the initiative to form a PPG had come from AUS(C). Its precise nature, composition and terms of
reference would become clearer as 1997 drew closer. ACDS (0) undertook to discuss the matter further with AUS (C) and CBF HK in due
course.
ITEM 7 WITHDRAWAL POLICY MATTERS
11.
-
ACDS (0) reviewed the significant extent of shifts in policy and approach to the rundown since the last HKSC. We had moved from the 'Stronger for Longer' concept of 1991 Review, through the 'two battalion option' for the Garrison proposed early 1993, to the current 'one core battalion, but with reinforcement option' solution, and now had a firm policy base for future rundown planning. Central to this were the OPD (K) endorsed policy direction of Jun 93 and the MOD policy paper 'The Policy for the Rundown of the HK Garrison to 1997, which was currently at HODS and due to COS shortly. These
5
CONFIDENTIAL
HQ BFHK
ACDS (0)
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