TNAG-2392-FCO40-3478-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 67

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EGISTRY

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Milickelts again

Sickelts

Another interpretation is that all the tasks

2.5 are clearly future-related & cumulatively, outweigh people's concern for short-term "livelihood".

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

HONG KONG

27 January 1992

總督

RESTRICTED

Mr

Mh Xxx or

Ms Sandhy

sohn

M. Share Ave

4/1

The Governorship

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Michelts).

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(Amplifi) S.C.

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Miss William,

le screnbare (new)

Gou ble).

There are not yet many detailed polls on the question of the Governorship.

one.

I have already sent you

I think it is worth sending you a second poll which appeared in the Ming Pao on 14 January. This is a respectable, middle-of-the-road newspaper, most nearly equivalent perhaps to the Independent in UK terms.

The "primary tasks" for the next Governor as assessed by the poll seem to me a fairly accurate assessment of the views of the public at large. It is hardly surprising that "livelihood concerns" comes out top. This would be true in most parts of the world. You will notice though that relations with Chine. also gets a high rating whereas "speeding up of democratisation" is rated much lower. Despite what would be said by some vociferous proponents of greater democracy, I think the rating in the poll is an accurate representation of the views of the public as a whole, including the silent majority.

I was also amused by my own rating. I am thinking of standing for election!

+ Smooth

tran hon

Sir John Coles KCMG

DUSS

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Governor

ere