TNAG-2794-FCO40-4034-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1993 — Page 111

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TELNO 46

MAR 1993

DESK OFFCER

INDEX

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OF 220925Z FEBRUARY 93

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, PEKING

UNITED DAILY NEWS (UDN).

MYTH INAN

1. THE UDN, WHICH CLAIMS TO BE THE BIGGEST NEWSPAPER GROUP IN TAIWAN LAST YEAR, AND THE ONE WHICH PART-SPONSORED BARONESS THATCHER'S VISIT HERE, HAVE JUST APPOINTED A LONDON-BASED CORRESPONDENT, GRACE YUN-LAN CHUNG.

2.

SHE CAME TO SEE ME SHORTLY BEFORE HER DEPARTURE FOR LONDON TO EXPLAIN THAT UDN HAD DECIDED TO SEND SOMEONE THERE IN ORDER TO FOLLOW AND REPORT ON UK ASPECTS OF HONG KONG AFFAIRS AND ON SINO- BRITISH RELATIONS, PARTICULARLY AS THEY AFFECTED HONG KONG. SHE WOULD BE REPORTING FOR UDN'S HONG KONG NEWSPAPER AS WELL AS SISTER PUBLICATIONS IN TAIWAN.

3. MISS CHUNG ASKED FOR INTRODUCTION. I SUGGESTED SHE CONTACT NEWS DEPARTMENT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. SHE WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY HELP IN GETTING IN TOUCH WITH ORGANISATIONS WHICH CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS IN LONDON.

4.

SHE DID NOT STRIKE ME AS KNOWING A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE SUBJECT AND SHE SEEMED ODDLY INEXPERIENCED FOR THE TASK. I SUSPECT THAT UDN HAVE SENT HER TO SURVIVE ON A SHOE-STRING. NEVERTHELESS, I HOPE SHE CAN BE GIVEN THE USUAL FACILITIES FOR OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS BY NEWS DEPARTMENT.

MORRICE

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