TNAG-2768-FCO40-3985-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 49

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4.

and seeing them singly, so as to avoid a rash of

similar stories appearing at the same time;

Doing the briefings at official level, again to reduce the profile. Since I am on the negotiating

team, perhaps I would be the right candidate (though

I am not pushing myself forward!)

The aim would be to explain in broad terms what we are

seeking to achieve, so as to set in context the leaking

from the Chinese side. We should not get into the fine

detail of the negotiations, but it would be useful to

explain the principles on which we are operating.

5. We would need Hong Kong's agreement to this. I submit a

telegram to the Acting Governor setting out the broad themes

which we might seek to get across (no doubt I would be

pressed hard to go beyond this and to speculate about eventual outcomes: I would resist that temptation).

the Minister and Hong Kong agree, I would propose to see

the journalists concerned over the next two weeks or so

emphasising the importance of avoiding any attribution of

the use they make of my comments.

If

"Nichetts

PF Ricketts

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