TNAG-1590-FCO40-2175-Appointment-of-Sir-David-Wilson-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 105

OCMIAN 1419

CONFIDENTIAL

OO HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

191630Z JAN

GRS 204

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 151

OF 191630Z JANUARY 87

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVE

ሰኑ

400

REGISTRY

20 JAN 1987

PA

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

11419

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44

See (52

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Y

ken

YOUR TELNO 212: APPOINTMENT OF SIR DAVID WILSON: MEDIA COVERAGE

1. WE UNDERSTAND THAT SIR D WILSON DISCUSSED THIS REPORT BY TELEPHONE WITH THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY AND THAT IT WAS

DECIDED:

(A) EVERY OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE TAKEN IN LONDON AND HONG KONG TO STATE THAT THERE WAS NO TRUTH IN THE SCMP STORY: AND

(B) TO QUOTE IN REFUTATION SIR D WILSON'S STATEMENT AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON 16 JANUARY THAT QUOTE THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB I EVER EXPECT TO DO IS TO SERVE HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE AS GOVERNOR UNQUOTE.

2. AN SCMP STRINGER, WHO DID NOT IDENTIFY HERSELF, CONTACTED THE NEWS DEPARTMENT DUTY OFFICER OVER THE WEEKEND TO SEEK A COMMENT ON THE STORY. HE SPOKE FORCEFULLY AND ON THE RECORD AS AT (A) AND (B) ABOVE. SHE REACTED IN SOME CONFUSION AND IMPLICITLY ADMITTED THAT THE STORY MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE FANCIFUL. NEWS DEPT ARE SEEKING TO CONTACT HEALY TO SPEAK TO HIM IN SIMILAR TERMS. WE HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER ENQUIRIES FROM THE MEDIA.

HOWE

LIMITED

HKD

NEWS.D

PS

PS/MR RENTON MR Gira MORE SIR.D.WILSON

1

CONFIDENTIAL

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