CONFIDENTIAL
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122
ME BYERS minuty
Mr Burns PS/Lord Caithness
FROM: K A M Saunders, HKD
DATE: 21 January 1992
cc: Sir J Coles
News Department,
HONG KONG: LINE TO TAKE ON LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON THE
NEXT GOVERNOR, 22 JANUARY
1. The Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo) will debate
the issue of the Governorship on 22 January. The original motion avoided defining a set of qualities for the new
Governor: Martin Lee has now proposed an amendment which has
the effect of creating a series of yardsticks.
2.
There will no doubt be criticism in the course of the
debate (particularly from the United Democrats and other
liberals) of the way Sir David Wilson's retirement was announced. Some members of LegCo will no doubt also suggest that Hong Kong people should have a say in who the new
Governor should be. Various names have been bandied about
in the local press, including local figures like Baroness
Lydia Dunn.
3. News Department may well be asked to comment on the
outcome of the debate or on issues raised during it. I propose that, if asked, News Department should draw on the following points:
the Governor is appointed by The Queen on the advice of
the Prime Minister.
SUNACL/1
CONFIDENTIAL