TNAG-1432-FCO40-1915-Appointment-of-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-following-the-death-1986 — Page 14

B

The Chinese

4.

CONFIDENTIAL

The files give no

indication that the Chinese were

or that the

given advance information of the appointment;

possibility of doing so was ever considered. I think we

can assume that it was not. Again, times change.

Handling of the Media

5.

The

appointment

was announced at 093OZ ΟΠ 22

December 1981 simultaneously in London and Hong Kong. Sir

Edward held a press conference at the Hong Kong Government

Office in London at noon that day.

Sir Edward Youde's Briefing

6.

Before taking up his appointment in May 1982 Sir

Youde undertook an extensive programme of briefing

over some weeks. This is

attached: it took

Edward

cities in

in a number of

Britain, as well as Geneva, Washington and

Baltimore. PSD authorised the expenditure on travel, etc, and HKGD organised the appointments, with assistance from

the COI (for UK provincial calls) and the HKGO (meetings

with the media).

слови

CO Hum

12 December 1986

Hong Kong Department

CONFIDENTIAL