من الاوربية
10
· 10/1 1.
ENGLISH MEDIA GOVERNOR
The announcement in Britain that the Governor would retire within 12 months was prominently reported by both English dailies. The reports noted that the announcement was made hours after Sir David was awarded a life peerage in the Queen's New Year's honours list. The retirement was confirmed by Prime Minister John Major, who said Sir David "has the Government's full confidence". A statement from Mr Major's office said "it was never the intention that Sir David should serve until 1907"
Meanwhile, the reports noted that there was no announcement about a successor, although a number of names including two former foreign secretaries, Sir Geoffrey Howe and Dr David Owen, had been prominent amid speculation. Observers said no one would be named until after British's general election.
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The news that the Governor would retire prompted mixed reactions from politicians and Legco members. The Post quoted Labour Party spokesman George Foulkes as saving that the events of the past few years had shown that the position of governor was much more of a political than an administrative post. He said the Party now believed there would be "insuperable problems" in appointing a HK person as Governor as the Party had earlier wished. United Democrats chairman Martin Lee was quoted by HKS as saying that it was the right time for Sir David to leave. The Post said Mr Lee, however, declined to evaluate Sir David's performance before his retirement but called on his successor to "wear only one hat as HK's Governor". HKS said Legco member Tam Yiu-chung praised Sir David for his performance in the past five years. His colleague, Frederick Fung, said Sir David's successor should have the political flair to tackle the subtle conflicts between Britain and China. Emily Lau was quoted by HKS as saying that the British Government had not considered HK's interests in making the announcement. She said it would be difficult for Sir David to hold his grip on the governorship for the remainder of his tenure when his retirement was confirmed so early. Ms Lau said she was disappointed with Sir David's performance in the past five years. She said Sir David's successor needed to have a direct link with the Prime Minister. Bernard Fong, writing in the Post, looked at Sir David's difficulties, accomplishments and how history might judge him. The writer said the people would remember Sir David as a person who had tried his hardest in the bleakest hour to offer a more positive vision, one shared even by his legion of detractors.
Stanley Leung in HKS recounted the political changes that Sir David had to go through over the past 56 months, including democratic developments and the airport projects.
Like Sir David, the writer said
the next Governor of HK would have his hands full.
ALLEN LEE
Remarks by Legco member Allen Lee at a seminar organised by Wen Wei Po were reported in good coverage by both papers. HKS quoted him as criticising newly directly elected Legco members for crippling the efficient operation of the Council and undermining civil servants' morale. The Post played up his claim that the British administration had lost control of the Legco following the intervention of the "so-called" liberals into the assembly through direct élections. said the liberals had dealt a strong political blow to the existing system and he had formed the Co-operative Resources Centre in order to strike a balance.