XN000022-1989-07-25 — Page 2

TUESDAY. JULY 25. 1989

GOVERNOR EXPECTS BRITISH POLICY TO REMAIN CONSTANT

THE GOVERNOR. SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) HE WOULD EXPECT BRITISH POLICY TO REMAIN CONSTANT TOWARDS HONG KONG DESPITE THE RESHUFFLE OF THE CABINET.

"I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY EFFECT ON BRITISH POLICY. IT'S AND NOT AFTER ALL. A POLICY WHICH COMES FROM THE CABINET AS A WHOLE. SIMPLY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE." HE SAID.

SIR DAVID MADE THE REMARKS AFTER A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHEN HE WAS ASKED BY REPORTERS TO COMMENT ON THE RESHUFFLE INVOLVING SIR GEOFFREY HOWE.

STATE

FOR FOREIGN

AN TAKE

EARLY HIMSELF WITH HONG

OF SIR DAVID HOPED THAT THE NEW SECRETARY COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS MR JOHN MAJOR. WOULD

FAMILIARISE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO HONG KONG AND

AND

KONG AFFAIRS.

HE NOTED THAT MR MAJOR HAD A GREAT REPUTATION IN AFFAIRS AND HAD BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THE POST

HE HAD NOT JUST LEFT. BUT UP TO NOW.

BEEN INVOLVED

AFFAIRS.

HIMSELF.

PARLIAMENTARY THAT HE HAD IN HONG KONG

TAKE A CHANCE AND BRIEF HIMSELF VERY

"I WOULD HOPE THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE HE WILL TO COME HERE AND SEE THINGS FOR THOROUGHLY ON HONG KONG." HE SAID.

CURVE SIR DAVID SAID THERE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LEARNING

THAT MR MAJOR WOULD GO FOR THE NEW SECRETARY AND HE HAD NO DOUBT THROUGH THAT LEARNING CURVE VERY QUICKLY,

A

"THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING THAT THE SOONER HE DOES IT THE BETTER.

IS AN BECAUSE IT

IMPORTANT TIME FOR HONG KONG. WE DO NEED

UNDERSTANDS SECRETARY OF STATE WHO UNDERSTANDS HONG KONG AFFAIRS

IT PERSONALLY.

AND

"SO THE SOONER HE CAN START THAT PROCESS. THE HAPPIER I SHALL BE. HE SAID.

RESHUFFLE WOULD HOLD UP ASKED WHETHER THE

THE NATIONALITY BECAUSE ISSUE. SIR DAVID SAID HE DID NOT THINK THIS WOULD BE AFFECTED

SIMPLY ONE FOR THE FOREIGN IT WOULD BE A CABINET QUESTION AND NOT SECRETARY.

HOWEVER, SIR DAVID ADDED THAT HE WOULD LIKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THE NATIONALITY ISSUE. WHICH WAS GENEROUS. TO BE MADE AS SOON AS COULD POSSIBLY DO IT.

/SIR DAVID

ON

THEY