TNAG-2393-FCO40-3479-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 5

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WITH CHINA DIRECTLY WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE ORDERS FROM THE FOREIGN

OFFICE. IT WAS NO LONGER SUITABLE TO PICK A FOREIGN OFFICE PERSON TO

BE GOVERNOR IN VIEW OF THE COMPLICATED SITUATION IN HONG KONG.

EDITORIALS

6.

SING PAO WAS THE ONLY MAJOR PAPER TO CARRY AN EDITORIAL ON THIS

SUBJECT TODAY. THE PAPER HOPED THAT MR PATTEN WOULD NOT BE AS BIG-

HEADED AS SOME BRITISH POLITICIANS TO THINK THAT HE COULD RAISE HIS HEAD HIGH IN FRONT OF THE CHINESE LEADERS SINCE HE HIMSELF WAS A

POLITICAL HEAVY-WEIGHT. THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG WOULD BE ON THE SAME FOOTING AS THE HEAD OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE.

IT WOULD SERVE NO GOOD PURPOSE IF EITHER SIDE ASSUMED AN UNCOMPROMISING ATTITUDE IN DEALING WITH MAJOR ISSUES AFFECTING HONG

KONG.

7. COLUMNS IN THE COMMENTARY SECTION OF PAPERS CONTINUED TO VIEW MR PATTEN'S APPOINTMENT IN A POSITIVE LIGHT. A COLUMNIST IN WEN WEI PO

COMMENDED MR PATTEN FOR PLEDGING HIMSELF TO DEFEND HONG KONG'S INTERESTS, SAYING THAT THIS WAS A WISE GESTURE. THE AUTHOR HOWEVER SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHETHER HE WOULD LIVE UP TO HIS

WORDS. A COLUMNIST IN THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL BELIEVED THAT MR PATTEN

WOULD BE A MAJOR DECISION-MAKER ON THE BRITISH SIDE IN FUTURE SINO-

BRITISH NEGOTIATIONS. THE AUTHOR ENVISAGED THERE WOULD BE MORE HEATED EXCHANGES AND MUCH TENSION BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES. IF

THIS WOULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN HK PEOPLE'S INTERESTS BEING GUARANTEED, IT WOULD NOT BE A BAD THING, THE AUTHOR SAID.

FORD

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