TNAG-2768-FCO40-3985-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 121

р.а. Лай

Media

101)

RI

HICB 301/1

15 Ju. 1993

PS/Mr Goodlad

3401

Modi's?

14/1. Ms Sandert

14/6

Discursed with me

2/41

From: Sara Everett

News Department

Date: 3 June 1993

cc: Mr Hum

Mr Ricketts, HKD

REQUESTS FOR INTERVIEWS WITH MR GOODLAD: HONG KONG

Problem

1. How should we respond to requests from London correspondents of the Hong Kong Chinese-language press for interviews with the Minister on his visit to Hong Kong?

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that the Minister does not give further interviews on Hong Kong at this stage. We should however bear in mind their interest in meeting the Minister from time to time

and offer a briefing to the Hong Kong press in London when we have something to say on Hong Kong from the London end. HKD

concur.

Argument

3. The London correspondents (Nancy Wong and Helen Po-Yi Tai)

of the two pro-China Hong Kong papers (Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei

Po) and Alego Poon of Sing Tao have asked to see the Minister together, following his return from Hong Kong, to discuss his visit. Separately John Ellison, the London correspondent of the Oriental Daily News (ODN), the largest circulating Chinese language paper in Hong Kong, has asked to see the Minister to discuss his visit and Hong Kong issues in general.

4. I understand that the Minister saw correspondents from most, if not all, the Hong Kong papers at the end of his visit. He

was therefore able to give them a full read-out of his visit and

UK policy on a number of Hong Kong issues. There is little to