TNAG-2766-FCO40-3983-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 148

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EAST ASIA

POLITICAL BACKGROUND COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT

ROLE OF BBC WORLD SERVICE

Traditionally, the politics of this region have been highly polarised: on the one hand communist states with totalitarian control over all areas of life, on the other highly dynamic economies with more or less democratic systems of government. But we are now witnessing a reorientation in the relations between the countries of East Asia.

Following the demise of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the process of change in China is taking place in a radically altered context. There is a strong awareness that real economic growth needs conditions like those prevailing in Hong Kong, Japan or South Korea, but a powerful elite of hard line politicians is trying to preserve the status quo. The next Triennium is all the more critical as it coincides with the last three years before the handover of Hong Kong.

The BBC's main international competitor in China is the Voice of America and, although we do not have the largest audience, there is evidence indicating that the BBC is the most trusted broadcaster in China.

The importance of Japan is self evident: within the world economy, as the economic centre of this area, and in its relations with Britain. World Service in English is now available on cable in all major Japanese cities.

The polarisation of the region finds its reflection in the relationship between North and South Korea. South Korea is one of the world's fastest growing economies and a key economic power in Asia. During the coming years it faces. the challenge of sustaining the current growth while preparing itself for the economic and political repercussions of unification with the North. Until then, there seems to be hardly any prospect for political change in the closed society of North Korea.

The media in the North are under strict government control and listening to foreign radio stations has been made almost impossible. In South Korea on the other hand there is a sophisticated network of electronic media, some of it under government control, and newspapers which enjoy a degree of freedom.

Tarin

LANGUAGES FOR THE REGION

Although there are a number of languages and dialects spoken in China, we believe that the most effective way of reaching the Chinese audience is to

ULA?

B-15

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