In Stove
RESTRICTED
111023
MDHIAN 0754
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1091
OF 16112OZ APRIL 92
HKA 010/1
TOP COPY ⚫ DIST? Q
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
THE GOVERNORSHIP: MEDIA SPECULATION: MR. CHRIS PATTEN.
SUMMARY
Pa
REPORT FROM LONDON THAT MR. CHRIS PATTEN HAD BEEN OFFERED THE POST OF GOVERNOR CAUSED A CONSIDERABLE STIR IN THE LOCAL MEDIA ON 16 APRIL. THE GENERAL TONE OF THE REPORTING AND COMMENT HAS BEEN POSITIVE, ALTHOUGH WITH SOME DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER MR. PATTEN WILL ACCEPT THE OFFER.
DETAIL
ON 16 APRIL, THE LOCAL MEDIA PICKED UP REPORTS FROM THE TIMES AND DAILY TELEGRAPH TO THE EFFECT THAT MR. CHRIS PATTEN HAD BEEN OFFERED THE POST OF GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST SAID THAT THE PRIME MINISTER HAD MADE THE OFFER EARLIER IN THE WEEK AND THAT MR. PATTEN WAS QUOTE 90 PERCENT CERTAIN TO ACCEPT UNQUOTE. THE REPORT WENT ON TO SAY THAT MOST COMMENTATORS THOUGHT MR. PATTEN WOULD BE A QUOTE TOP CLASS CHOICE UNQUOTE BUT THAT HE WOULD COME UNDER PRESSURES FROM FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES NOT TO ACCEPT.
2. THE WAH KIU YAT PO ARGUED IN AN EDITORIAL THAT MR. PATTEN'S POLITICAL LINKS WOULD BE A VALUABLE ASSET IF HE WERE TO BE APPOINTED. THE ORIENTAL DAILY MADE A SIMILAR POINT AND ADDED THAT HE COULD BE THE IDEAL PERSON TO STEER HONG KONG THROUGH THE TRANSITION TO 1997. THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL CARRIED THE ONLY CRITICAL EDITORIAL. THE WRITER ARGUED THAT MR. PATTEN WAS TOO YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED FOR THE JOB. THE EDITORIAL CONCLUDED THAT THE POST OF GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT BE A REFUGE FOR DEFEATED POLITICIANS OR A REWARD FOR MR. PATTEN'S WORK IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
3. SUCH COMMENT AS WAS PUBLISHED WAS FROM LOCAL POLITICAL FIGURES GENERALLY FAVOURABLE TO THE IDEA OF MR. PATTEN BEING APPOINTED GOVERNOR. LEGCO MEMBERS EDWARD CHEN, EMILY LAU AND
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