TNAG-2789-FCO40-4028-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 53

18-77

Assistants/RAD Regional Directors

(Distribution List attached)

BBC MONITORING: PRIORITIES PAPER

1.

M

Seg

Reference.......

at

Вутрен

Petrarcful of you cd. full

the

gressimane ar 'y'

Ret az is for your advice on 'x'.

and

BBC Monitoring, which is funded by Grants-in-Aid administered by this department, is tasked through a Priorities Paper prepared by the FCO, MOD and Cabinet Office (the main Whitehall users of Monitoring material). This is updated annually after consultation with FCO departments and the other Whitehall users. The time has now come to carry out the 1993 review.

2.

I should be grateful if you would look at the attached copy of the relevant extract from the current Priorities Paper and examine those aspects which relate to the work of your Department. Individual priorities should be looked at carefully to ensure that BBC Monitoring remains as closely targetted to the FCO's own priorities as possible. We expect to undertake a more fundamental review this year with, if possible, more precise priorities as part of the outcome. We shall need to look in particular at the type and level of information we require from the former Eastern bloc and the republics of the FSU. (We are dealing separately with the Departments and Sections concerned.)

3.

I should be grateful if you could let me know of any proposed deletions, additions, amplifications or changes of category by 28 May. Departments which do not reply by then will be assumed to be content for the present priorities to be extended for another year. Nil returns are not required.

4.

We shall then consider the proposed changes with the MOD and Cabinet Office. For financial and technical reasons it may not be possible to meet all requests for additional or upgraded requirements. The revised Priorities Paper will be circulated to all addressees after it has been agreed with BBC Monitoring.

5.

As part of this review exercise it would also be useful if you, or someone else who actually makes use of Monitoring material, would complete as far as possible the enclosed questionnaire. I should be grateful if this too could be completed and returned to me by 28 May.

6.

I should also be very grateful if for this year's exercise you could give particular attention to the last question, Q12a, so that your answer provides a clear and considered view of the value of Monitoring reports to the work of your Department or Section. Besides updating the requirements and priorities for Monitoring, we are anxious to obtain a much fuller and clearer picture than we have at present of the overall value for money which Monitoring's operations are now providing for the FCO, and for other official users of the end-product. Replies to Q12 will be an important contribution to this assessment.

RHG Davies

Information Department

OAB G/110 210 6119

22 April 1993