GRS 900
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
Confidential
TO DESK BY 13110OZ FCO
TELNO 135
OF 130925Z JANUARY 87
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
OPY
TOP
• PA
R2
N
400/1
VED IN REGISTRY
14 JAN 1987
SK OFFICER
PA
Action Taken
MIPT: ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW GOVERNOR : MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS
FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF QUESTIONS WHICH MAY BE ASKED BY THE
HONG KONG MEDIA AT THE SATELLITE-LINK PRESS CONFERENCE ON 16 JANUARY:
PERSONAL
1.
WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU BRING TO THE JOB?
2.
WHEN WERE YOU OFFERED THE JOB?
3.
DID IT TAKE LONG TO DECIDE TO ACCEPT?
WERE YOU CHOSEN PERSONALLY BY THE PRIME MINISTER?
5.
WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE CHOSEN?
6.
HOW LONG DO YOU EXPECT TO REMAIN GOVERNOR? UNTIL 1997?
7.
ANY HEALTH PROBLEMS?
8.
DO YOU EXPECT TO DO THE SAME AMOUNT OF TRAVELLING AS SIR
EDWARD YOUDE?
9.
10.
11.
DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS AND
EXPERTISE TO TAKE CHARGE OF A LARGE ADMINISTRATION AND TO RUN
A DYNAMIC TERRITORY SUCH AS HONG KONG?
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST DEMANDING ASPECTS OF THE
JOB?
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MAJOR PRIORITIES OF YOUR GOVERNORSHIP?
POLITICAL
12.
WAS CHINA CONSULTED/INFORMED BEFORE APPOINTMENT?
REACTION?
13.
CHINA'S
14.
15.
16.
17.
THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERING REPORTS HERE THAT, ON THE ONE HAND,
THE PRIME MINISTER CONSIDERS THAT HKG OFFICIALS ARE TOO
COMPLIANT TO CHINA'S WISHES, AND, ON THE OTHER, THAT THE
PRIME MINISTER CONSIDERS HKG OFFICIALS TO BE 'HOSTILE'' TO
CHINA? WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT?
WHEN HONG KONG'S INTERESTS CONFLICT WITH THOSE OF THE UK OR
CHINA OR BOTH, WOULD YOU ALWAYS PUT HONG KONG'S INTERESTS
FIRST?
DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT INFLUENCE IN WHITEHALL/
WESTMINISTER TO MAKE HONG KONG'S VOICE HEARD?
DO YOU SEE THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS
AS ONE OF YOUR PRIMARY TASKS?
WITH ONLY 10 YEARS TO GO BEFORE THE REVERSION OF SOVEREIGNTY,
DO YOU FEEL THAT AS GOVERNOR YOUR HANDS WILL BE TIED BY THE
JOINT DECLARATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS?
Confidential
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