OCMIAN 6446
CONFIDENTIAL
DD 05010OZ HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
041830Z SEP
GRS 280
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FM FCO
TO DESKBY 050100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 1264
OF 041830Z SEPTEMBER 85
CONFIDENTIAL
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM GALSWORTHY
6446 - 1
HER 027/6
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
·
4 SEP 1985
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Tan
YOUR TELNOS 1797 AND 1798: MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS
1.
NUMBER 10 ANNOUNCED THIS AFTERNOON THAT MR RENTON,
PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, WILL BE TAKING OVER FROM
MR LUCE AS MINISTER OF STATE. MR RENTON IS IN HOSPITAL AT THE
MOMENT. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS YET TO TAKE A DECISION ON THE
DIVISION OF MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE OFFICE, BUT
STRICTLY FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION AT THE MOMENT, MR RENTON IS
LIKELY TO ASSUME MR LUCE'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HONG KONG. WE
WILL OF COURSE CONFIRM THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
2.
OVERNIGHT NEWS DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE.
LINE TO TAKE
CHANGE OF MINISTERS WILL IN NO WAY DIMINISH THE
IMPORTANCE WITH WHICH HONG KONG IS VIEWED IN THE FCO, NOR WILL
HMG'S POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG, FOR WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE
IS OF COURSE RESPONSIBLE, CHANGE IN ANY WAY. AS IS CUSTOMARY THE
SECRETARY OF STATE WILL NOW CONSIDER EXACTLY HOW MINISTERIAL
RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN FCO WILL BE ALLOCATED. UNDER THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S AUTHORITY HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF STATE.
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