CONFIDENTIAL
155'
023325
MDHIAN 4675
1215.
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1360
OF 20070OZ MAY 92
TOP COPY Q DIST?
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD AND PS/MR. PATTEN.
NEW GOVERNOR: TITLE.
1. WE UNDERSTAND (TELECOM HOARE/MORRIS) THAT MR. PATTEN IS CONTENT FOR GOVERNMENT HOUSE INVITATIONS TO BE PRINTED IN THE STYLE OF 'THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG AND MRS PATTEN''. WE WILL ALSO BE ISSUING INVITATIONS REFERRING TO ''THE RT. HON.
CHRISTOPHER PATTEN' IN CONNECTION WITH THE RECEPTION TO BE HELD AT CITY HALL FOLLOWING MR. PATTEN'S INAUGURATION ON 9 JULY.
2. ONCE THESE INVITATIONS ARE ISSUED, AND POSSIBLY AS SOON AS THE PRINTING ORDER IS PLACED, THERE WILL BE RENEWED SPECULATION ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER MR. PATTEN WILL BE KNIGHTED BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL. THE VARIOUS ARTICLES IN THE UK PRESS, MOST RECENTLY OVER THE WEEKEND, HAVE OF COURSE BEEN PICKED UP HERE.
3. IF A DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON THIS POINT, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR SOME AUTHORITATIVE BACKGROUND BRIEFING TO BE CARRIED OUT AT THE LONDON END. GRATEFUL ALSO TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY PARTICULAR LINE YOU WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE IN REPLY TO DIRECT QUESTIONS FROM THE HONG KONG MEDIA.
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
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HKD 0161
277A1997
ΜΑΙΝ
HKD
PS
PROTOCOL D
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/MR PATTEN
27
PAGE
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
MR FIGGIS
1
CONFIDENTIAL
2B