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HKA OIO/I
TOP COPY Q DIST?
132744
MDHIAN 1678
65
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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1152
OF 27110OZ APRIL 92
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INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, HKGO LONDON
APPOINTMENT OF NEXT GOVERNOR: MEDIA COVERAGE AND LOCAL REACTION (26-27 APRIL)
SUMMARY
1. THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEXT GOVERNOR AND RELATED STORIES CONTINUED TO DOMINATE THE NEWS IN HONG KONG OVER THE WEEKEND. THERE WAS SUSTAINING FAVOURABLE REACTION. REPORTS TENDED TO BECOME MORE IN-DEPTH AND FOCUSED IN ASPECTS LIKE THE CHINA DIMENSION, THE POST-1997 PERSPECTIVE, POSSIBLE CHANGES TO STYLE AND STRUCTURE OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG.
DETAIL
2. STORIES RELATING TO MR PATTEN'S APPOINTMENT CONTINUED TO RECEIVE PROMINENT TREATMENT IN ALL THE MEDIA ON SUNDAY 26 APRIL AND TODAY. THE FOCUS ON SUNDAY WAS A STORY IN THE SUNDAY MORNING POST THAT MR PATTEN WAS CONSIDERING CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG. THE PAPER SAID THE CREATION OF A DEPUTY GOVERNOR POST WAS FIRMLY RULED OUT BUT A NEW AND MORE POWERFUL POLITICAL ADVISER WAS SEEN TO BE NECESSARY. THE CHIEF SECRETARY WOULD BE URGED TO DELAY HIS RETIREMENT BY SEVERAL MONTHS. THE STORY QUOTED INFORMED SOURCES AS SAYING THAT MR PATTEN WOULD DRAW ON HIS MINISTERIAL EXPERIENCE FOR FORM A NEW POWER BASE INSIDE GOVERNMENT HOUSE THAT COULD CHALLENGE THE EXISTING TIERS OF AUTHORITY IN UPPER ALBERT ROAD.
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3 IN ITS NEW GOVERNOR FEATURE THE SUNDAY MORNING POST DEPICTED IN A FAVOURABLE TONE HOW MR PATTEN'S HONG KONG VISITS IN 1979 AND 1988 HAD RESULTED IN A DEFINITE SWING IN BRITISH POLICIES AND A BOOST FOR HONG KONG FORTUNES. SPECIFIC REFERENCES WERE MADE TO MR PATTEN'S ROLE IN SETTING UP THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND FUNDING FOR
HONG KONG VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROGRAMMES.
4. MOST OTHER SUNDAY PAPERS CONCENTRATED ON THE GOVERNOR'S
REMARKS PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE FOR LONDON AND THE GOVERNOR'S INTERVIEW WITH THE BBC. THE PAPERS SAID THE GOVERNOR WAS TO ADVISE MR PATTEN THAT HE HAD TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO MAINTAIN GOOD
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