.R J COLES, DUSS FOR DIST ADVICE AH 1212502 HMLNAN 7851
189
TO FCOLN 1AY
STRICTED
M HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1278
OF 12105OZ MAY 92
нко аб
DB
FROM GOVERNOR.
PERSONAL FOR SIR JOHN COLES, DUSS.
MIPT: NEW GOVERNOR: PRESS REPORTS.
TRANSLATION OF A REPORT ON GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE CHRIS PATTEN ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS, MAY 12, 1992.
HEADLINE: PATTEN TO BRING THREE ADVISERS TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE. WITH POWERS REDUCED, CS TO HANDLE DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.
(JOHN ELLISON, LONDON) SOURCES IN LONDON HAVE REVEALED THAT WHEN GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE CHRIS PATTEN ARRIVES IN HK ON JULY 9, HE WILL BRING TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE THREE SENIOR ADVISERS. MR. PATTEN'S NEW POLITICAL ADVISER WILL SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERMINE THE STATUS OF CHIEF SECRETARY SIR DAVID FORD, WHO WILL BE LEFT IN CHARGE OF HK'S DOMESTIC AFFAIRS ONLY.
THE SOURCES SAID THAT MR. PATTEN WOULD SELECT A SENIOR OFFICIAL FROM THE FCO AS HIS SENIOR POLITICAL ADVISER. HE WOULD ALSO HAVE HIS OWN PRESS SECRETARY AND PRIVATE SECRETARY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
THE MATTER HAS CREATED INCREASING CONCERN AMONG HK OFFICIALS. THIS IS BECAUSE ACCORDING TO NORMAL PRACTICE, THE STAFF OF THE GOVERNOR WILL BE PAID BY THE HK GOVERNMENT AND ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL BY FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THERE WOULD BE CONSIDERABLE EMBARRASSMENT SHOULD THE FINANCE COMMITTEE DECLINE THE FUNDING REQUEST.
THE SOURCE ESTIMATED THAT CHANGES IN THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE THIS TIME HAD UPSET LORD WILSON, WHO HAD INSISTED THAT THE EXISTING SYSTEM IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW GOVERNOR.
AT THE SAME TIME, MR. PATTEN'S BRINGING HIS OWN PEOPLE FROM LONDON WOULD AFFECT SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS IN THE SERVICE, SIR DAVID FORD ABOVE ALL. THIS WAS BECAUSE THE NEW POLITICAL ADVISER WAS GOING TO HAVE FREQUENT AND DIRECT ACCESS TO MR. PATTEN.
THE SOURCE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT MR. PATTEN WAS UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE FOREIGN OFFICE TO APPOINT A NEW POLITICAL ADVISER FROM THE SENIOR RANKS OF DIPLOMATS IN LONDON. THIS WAS BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TERRITORY INVOLVED VERY CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE FOREIGN OFFICE, SOMETIMES ON A HOURLY BASIS. FURTHER, MR. PATTEN NEEDED A DIPLOMAT FAMILIAR WITH SINO-HK AFFAIRS AS HIS ASSISTANT, IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT HE HIMSELF WAS NOT AS WELL VERSED IN CHINA AND HK POLITICS AS LORD WILSON. SHOULD MR. PATTEN LACK DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT, HE MAY NOT BE IN A POSITION TO CARRY OUT HIS TASK AS GOVERNOR EASILY.