XN000022-1987-02-10 — Page 2

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987

SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES TO BE SPECIAL ADVISER

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES WOULD BE APPOINTED AS SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG WHEN SIR DAVID WILSON TAKES UP HIS POST AS GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG IN APRIL.

SIR DAVID WILL SERVE AS SPECIAL ADVISER UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1987. THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE APPOINTMENT WAS BEING MADE UPON THE INVITATION OF THE GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE SO AS TO MAKE USE OF SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES'S WIDE EXPERIENCE IN THE PERIOD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ARRIVAL OF SIR DAVID WILSON.

THE APPOINTMENT WOULD BE OF CONSIDERABLE BENEFIT IN MAINTAINING CONTINUITY AT THE MOST SENIOR LEVELS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND IN PROVIDING THE NEW GOVERNOR WITH ADVICE ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS FOR SOME MONTHS AFTER HE HAS TAKEN UP HIS POST.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT MR DAVID FORD WILL BE APPOINTED AS CHIEF SECRETARY WITH EFFECT FROM FEBRUARY 12, 1987.

SIR DAVID PLEASED WITH NEW APPOINTMENT

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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (TUESDAY) SAID HE WAS VERY PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO STAY ON FOR A FEW MONTHS IN THE CAPACITY AS SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE NEW GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THIS MORNING'S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING, SIR DAVID SAID: I'M VERY GLAD TO HAVE BEEN ASKED BY SIR DAVID WILSON TO STAY ON FOR A FEW MONTHS IN THIS SPECIAL CAPACITY AND I LOOK FORWARD VERY MUCH TO THOSE FEW MONTHS.+

ASKED WHETHER THE APPOINTMENT WAS +TOO SHORT+, HE SAID IT WOULD BE JUST RIGHT, +JUST EXACTLY WHAT SIR DAVID WILSON HAS ASKED.+

SIR DAVID SAID HE INTENDED TO LIVE IN HONG KONG AFTER RETIREMENT, ALTHOUGH HE HAD NO SPECIFIC POST-RETIREMENT PLANS AT THE MOMENT.

COMMENTING ON SIR DAVID'S NEW APPOINTMENT, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, TOLD REPORTERS THAT HE WAS VERY PLEASED THAT SIR DAVID WOULD STAY ON FOR A PERIOD LONGER.

/+I THINK

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