2319222
CONFIDENTIAL
DEYOU
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 24010OZ HONG KONG TELNO 690
OF 23173OZ APRIL 92
AND TO DESKBY 24010OZ PEKING
53
CONFIDENTIAL YOU
TOP COPY
HKA 010/1
HONG KONG STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR PEKING STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR
MIPT: NEW GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG: MESSAGE TO LYDIA DUNN
1.
BEGINS:
FOLLOWING IS MESSAGE:·
DEAR LYDIA
I KNOW THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE IN CONFIDENCE THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG.
THE PRIME MINISTER AND I HAVE BEEN VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED, FOR HONG KONG'S SAKE, TO REMOVE THE UNCERTAINTY IN PEOPLE'S MINDS ABOUT THIS MATTER AS SOON AS WE HUMANLY COULD AFTER THE ELECTION. WE HAVE JUST REACHED OUR DECISION. WE SHALL ACCORDINGLY BE ANNOUNCING IN LONDON AT 1100 BST (1000 GMT) ON 24 APRIL THAT THE NEXT GOVERNOR WILL BE MR CHRISTOPHER PATTEN. WE HAVE MADE OUR CHOICE VERY CAREFULLY AND ARE SURE THAT HE WILL BRING TO THIS VITAL JOB ALL THE NECESSARY QUALITIES. HE IS A FIRST-CLASS MAN WHOM I HAVE KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS AS A FRIEND AND FOR WHOM I HAVE THE HIGHEST ESTEEM.
NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS OVER THE PRIME MINISTER AND I ARE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE TO GIVE VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE AFFAIRS OF HONG KONG AND TO WORK FOR THE PROSPEROUS AND STABLE FUTURE WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WANT. WE SHALL REMAIN PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR OWN ADVICE AND COOPERATION WHICH HAVE BEEN SO VALUABLE TO US IN THE PAST.
WITH MY BEST WISHES.
DOUGLAS HURD
ENDS.
HURD
YYYY
SIR J COLES
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/PUS
MR BURNS
MR RICKETTS//HKD
NO FURTHER DISTRIBUTION
CONFIDENTIAL/AEYOU