TNAG-2392-FCO40-3478-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 20

MR CHRIS PATTEN PC LONDON

24 APRIL 1992

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QUESTION (Radio Macao):

you have learned nothing about Hong Kong and China and you

have little knowledge of the Hong Kong people, are you sure that

you can demonstrate your talent and your ability to assure Hong

Kong's confidence?

MR PATTEN:

I hope I bring some qualities to the job which will recommend me

to the people of Hong Kong and I very much hope, as I said

earlier, that the way in which I do the job encourages the people

of Hong Kong to put their confidence and trust in me. I certainly

intend to do the job with that objective in mind and I hope that I

can learn what alas I do not already know as rapidly as possible.

I know perhaps slightly more about China and slightly more about

Hong Kong than your question perhaps implied and I certainly know

a great deal, I hope, about how to

about how to ensure that the Governor of

Hong Kong has a very good relationship with the Prime Minister and

the Foreign Secretary.

QUESTION (ITN):

Do you hope to return one day to Westminster politics or have you

really decided to call it a day?

MR PATTEN:

I hope to be a good Governor of Hong Kong for five years and beyond that I recall frequently the words from the great hymn by the 19th century Cardinal: "I do not seek the distant scene, one