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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
RECEIVE
TELNO 4094
IN REGISTRY 1 8 DEC 1986
OF 10072OZ DECEMBER 86
DESK OFFICER
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Action Taken
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF LETTER OF 19TH DECEMBER FROM THIRTEEN ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO MR. RENTON:
2. ''WE ARE A GROUP OF ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE OUR VIEWS KNOWN TO HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AS TO WHAT WE CONSIDER THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
OUGHT TO BE.
3. OF COURSE, THE NEXT GOVERNOR MUST KNOW CHINA AND HONG KONG WELL, AND WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS LEADING UP TO THE
SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IN DECEMBER 1984. BUT WE FEEL
THAT HE MUST ALSO POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES:-
(1) HE MUST BE AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNOR BOTH IN THE INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION OF OUR AFFAIRS IN HONG KONG, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN HIS DEALINGS WITH THE PRC. HE MUST NOT APPEAR TO THE PUBLIC AS THE HEAD OF A LAME-DUCK ADMINISTRATION FOR THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY AFFECT ADVERSELY THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IN OUR
FUTURE.
(11) WHILE HE MUST BE DIPLOMATIC IN HIS NUMEROUS DIALOGUES WITH THE PRC ON MANY ISSUES OF VARIOUS DEGREES OF IMPORTANCE, HE MUST BE
PREPARED TO BE FIRM WHENEVER THE OCCASION REQUIRES IT.
(111) THOUGH HE WILL NO DOUBT CONTINUE TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF HMG, OUR COLONY DAYS WILL SOON BE OVER: AND IT IS VITAL THAT THE GOVERNOR DURING THIS TRANSITIONAL PERIOD SHOULD APPEAR TO THE PUBLIC TO BE A PERSON WHO CAN AND WILL BE ABLE TO DEFEND THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG, IN SITUATIONS WHICH INVOLVE A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND HONG KONG, SO AS TO SET A SHINING EXAMPLE FOR THE FUTURE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE HK SAR.
4. WE BELIEVE THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEXT GOVERNOR OUGHT TO BE MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE: AND WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE UP HIS NEW OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, FOR ANY DELAY IN SUCH MATTERS WILL BE LIKELY TO CAUSE PUBLIC ANXIETY.''
5. WE SUGGEST A REPLY ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LETTER OF 9TH DECEMBER WITH YOUR VIEWS UPON THE QUALITIES APPROPRIATE TO THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG.
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