TNAG-2767-FCO40-3984-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 104

HKB 301/1

FROM:

J C Morris

RECE

*ISTRY

19 MAR 1993

DATE:

Hong Kong Department

19 March 1993

S INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken cc:

Sir J Coles

Mr Hum

PS/Mr Goodlad

Mr Cornish, News Dept Mr Davies, FED

HONG KONG: NEW EDITOR OF SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST: DAVID

ARMSTRONG

File

(61)

1. News International, owners of the South China Morning Post

have appointed a new editor, David Armstrong (former editor of the Canberra Times and The Australian) Canberra tipped us off last month that Mr Armstrong was planning to visit London en route to taking up his new job in early April (fax attached). Mr Armstrong has now arrived in London, somewhat disappointed that News International appear to have done little to arrange his UK briefing programme.

The

2. I understand that Sir John Coles who knows Mr Armstrong will be speaking to him next week. I plan to arrange for him to call on me and/or Mr Ricketts and imagine that Mr Cornish would also wish to meet him. I should be grateful to know whether the Minister could find time to see Mr Armstrong. editor of the SCMP tends to be the only professional Western-style journalist among a pack of cub reporters. departing editor Philip Saville has been helpful and we believe it would be worth cultivating his successor.

Jinaria

JC Morris

min.editorssmp.MORRIS

JEB

The