TNAG-1590-FCO40-2175-Appointment-of-Sir-David-Wilson-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 100

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 212

OF 17042OZ JANUARY 87

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

APPOINTMENT OF SIR DAVID WILSON: MEDIA COVERAGE

THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST TODAY LED WITH A STORY HEADLINED QUOTE WILSON TO STAY NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS UNQUOTE.

2. THE STORY WAS DATELINED LONDON AND CARRIED DAVID HEALY'S BYL INE. IT CLAIMED THAT SIR DAVID HAD AGREED TO ACCEPT THE GOVERNORSHIP QUOTE ONLY AFTER STRIKING A DEAL WITH MRS THATCHER THAT HE WILL STAY HERE FOR NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS UNQUOTE. THE STORY FURTHER CLAIMED THAT THE PRIME MINISTER HAD DECIDED THAT AFTER SIR DAVID GAVE UP THE POST SHE WOULD APPOINT A PROMINENT HONG KONG CHINESE CITIZEN. THE STORY GOES ON :

QUOTE THIS HAS BEEN THE REASON FOR THE DELAY IN NAMING THE 51-YEAR -OLD SCOT WITH A RUSSIAN WIFE WHO IS TO BECOME HONG KONG'S 27TH

GOVERNOR.

QUOTE SIR DAVID IS ONLY 51 AND HIS HIGH-FLYING CAREER IN THE FOREIGN OFFICE WOULD BE FINISHED IF HE SPENDS THE NEXT 10 YEARS

AS HONG KONG GOVERNOR.

QUOTE SO WHEN MRS THATCHER DECIDED HE WAS THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE JOB, SIR DAVID INSISTED HE SHOULD BE GIVEN AN EVEN HIGHER APPOINTMENT TO FINISH OFF HIS CAREER.

QUOTE THE CHINESE GOVERNOR WHO IS TO BE APPOINTED IN THE EARLY 1990S TO TAKE CONTROL UP TO 1997 HAS NOT YET BEEN CHOSE, BUT IT WILL BE ONE OF SIR DAVID'S TASKS TO IDENTIFY HIS OWN SUCCESSOR

UNQUOTE.

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