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21 MAY '92 14:10 M & CO 3 LOMBARD ST.
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torial of The Next Magazine Tissue No.114, 157571992)
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Reg've been reading your mail!
Chris Patten should make himself a "visible" Governor
(8008U)
The Next Magazine (TNM) said that it will be impossible for Chris Patten to have any major achievement in his five years .of governorship in HK as he will have to face enormous burden
& pressure arising from the new airport project, the deteriorating law & order, the growing triad crimes and
special political situation before the 1997.
TNM suggested that Chris Patten should concentrate his energy to achieve two main goals:
1.
Ready to come forward as the leader when crises arise
TNM criticised Sir David Wilson for failing to achieve this. The magazine said he had failed to show any courage and sense of responsibility when there were major crises like the 1987 stock market crash, the June 4 Incident, the BCC crisis and even the rainstorms of last Friday. It said Sir David had not shown any concern about such major crises. It remarked that Sir David's weakness in this aspect makes people think of the good old days when Edward Youde claimed that "1 speak on behalf of the people of HK" and when Philip Haddencave went to a major fire scene in Aberdeen to inspect the severity of the accident.
TNM also criticized the Governor for failing to capitalize the opportunity of "clearing up" inefficient bureaucrats in the Government when various departments failed to respond appropriately on 8th May when thete were rainstorms.
TNM then mades a list of "officials' mistakes" on the day of the major rainstorms: the belated decision of the Education Department in announcing school closure, the weakness of the Buildings & Lands Department in providing adequate preventive measures regarding drainages and dangerous slopes and the failure of the Royal Observatory to issue effective warnings to the public & to liaise with other departments.
TNM remarked that a veteran politician as is Mr. Patten would surely understand the helplessness of the people of HK under the rule of an "invisible Governor". He should, it said, come forward and tell the people that what the Government is trying to do is to protect the law & order of HK and enable the people to lead a prosperous life.
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