XN000022-1991-12-31 — Page 2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1991

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GOVERNOR ELEVATED TO PEERAGE

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THE NEW YEAR'S HONOURS LIST PUBLISHED IN LONDON TODAY INCLUDES THE ELEVATION TO THE PEERAGE OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, SIR DAVID WILSON GCMG. NO 10 DOWNING STREET ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT WAS EXPECTED THAT SIR DAVID WILSON WOULD RETIRE FROM THE GOVERNORSHIP BEFORE THE END OF 1992. THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT SIR DAVID WOULD HAVE SERVED AS GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG FOR FIVE YEARS NEXT APRIL, THAT HE HAD THE FULL CONFIDENCE OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, THAT IT WAS NEVER THE INTENTION THAT HE SHOULD SERVE UNTIL 1997 AND THAT THE EXPECTATION WAS THAT HE WOULD RETIRE BEFORE THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR

BEING GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY AT THIS IMPORTANT TIME, HAS BEEN A RARE PRIVILEGE. I SHALL OF COURSE BE SORRY TO LEAVE.

THESE HAVE NOT BEEN EASY YEARS. BUT WE CAN ALL TAKE PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES A GREAT DEAL HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. THE ECONOMY REMAINS BUOYANT. WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THEIR OWN HARD WORK AND SUCCESS.

I HAVE PREVIOUSLY MADE IT. CLEAR THAT I DID NOT EXPECT TO REMAIN AS GOVERNOR RIGHT THROUGH TO 1997. WITH A CHANGR BEING INEVITABLE BEFORE THEN, IT MAKES A GREAT DEAL OF SENSE TO ALLOW THE NEW GOVERNOR ENOUGH TIME TO BECOME WELL ESTABLISHED.

THE TIMING OF MY DEPARTURE IS NOT YET FIXED, BUT I WILL BE HERE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO COME. DURING THAT TIME, I WILL BE WORKING WITH ALL MY ENERGY TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THIS HAS BEEN MY CONSTANT CONCERN OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

HONG

BUT KONG

THE GRANT OF A LIFE PEERAGE IS NOT ONLY A GREAT HONOUR, WILL ALSO GIVE ME THE CHANCE TO TAKE A CLOSE INTEREST IN AFFAIRS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

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