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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2291
OF 110505Z SEPTEMBER 92
PERSONAL FOR HUMM, AUSS.
FROM GOVERNOR.
EXCO APPOINTMENTS.
15
BU
020337
MDHIAN 8575
in Shoe M1419 our Pucketts of
(file copy)
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11/x
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114/9.
1. I INFORMED MR.GOODLAD OF MY CURRENT THINKING ON APPOINTMENTS TO EXCO BEFORE HE LEFT HONG KONG ON 9 SEPTEMBER. THESE CAN BE . SUMMARISED AS FOLLOWS:
SEPARATION OF EXCO AND LEGCO.
2.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, AND AS I SHALL STATE PUBLICLY IN MY ADDRESS TO LEGCO ON 7 OCTOBER, I PROPOSE TO SEPARATE EXCO FROM LEGCO, SO THAT NO-ONE WILL BE SIMULTANEOUSLY A MEMBER OF BOTH COUNCILS. I WANT EXCO TO BE A NON-POLITICAL BODY WHICH WILL GIVE ME THE BEST AVAILABLE IMPARTIAL ADVICE ON THE WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES THAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH. I AM THEREFORE LOOKING TO APPOINT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ESTABLISHED A REPUTATION IN THEIR OWN FIELDS AND WHO, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, WILL BE SEEN AS THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST TALENTS AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG.
*
PRESENT MEMBERS OF EXCO.
3.
I PROPOSE TO RETAIN ONLY TWO OF THE PRESENT MEMBERS OF EXCO LYDIA DUNN AND WILLIE PURVES. LYDIA DUNN'S REPUTATION AND PRESTIGE ARE UNRIVALLED. SHE HAS GREAT AUTHORITY AND INFLUENCE, BOTH IN EXCO AND IN THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RETAINING HER AS SENIOR MEMBER. WILLIE PURVES IS PERHAPS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG BUSINESS COMMUNITY. HE GIVES SOUND AND SENSIBLE ADVICE ON EXCO AND I PROPOSE TO RETAIN HIM UNTIL HE LEAVES TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN THE UK IN 1993.
4. SIX OF THE SEVEN OTHER NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXCO ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF LEGCO:
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Redacted under FOI exemptions 27(1), 40(2) and 41. ▾