TNAG-2766-FCO40-3983-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 122

m.bbc12

Mr_Ham

FROM:

Меня pa.

15. Medi's

MWB 30

RECE

"ISTRY

15 JAN 1992

INDE

SEGIET

VA

AL

P FRicketts

Hong Kong Department

DATE:

12 January 1993

CC:

Mr Davies, FED

Tis. Pl

Mary

BBC WORLD SERVICE TRIENNIUM 1994-97

14

muti į 21. Dr.

1. I am sorry to have missed your deadline for comments on these papers.

2.

We share your view that the BBC document is not well argued. It does, for example, rather take for granted the value of BBC WS broadcasting. There is little consideration

of how the WS competes, eg with the VOA, or (in the case of Cantonese broadcasting), how it would compete with the Hong Kong commercial radio stations which can be heard throughout Guandong province.

3.

Given the continuing importance to us beyond 1997 of the whole Southern China/Hong Kong region, I think there is a case for the BBC building up a small Cantonese service at this stage. But it needs to be argued against other priorities.

4. The only specifically Hong Kong point is that I agree with the comment on page B17 that the BBC cannot count on use of its Hong Kong relay after 1996/97 and that they should be looking at alternative facilities.

Деми

PF Ricketts