TNAG-2449-FCO40-3565-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 47

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PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

LEGCO APPOINTMENTS

1. AS YOU KNOW, THE RESIGNATION OF RITA FAN HAS LEFT ONE VACANCY FOR AN APPOINTED MEMBER IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO WHO SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO FILL THIS VACANCY AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IT SHOULD BE SOMEONE WHO, APART FROM HIS OR HER PERSONAL MERITS, CAN BE COUNTED ON TO SUPPORT MY CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS WHEN THEY COME TO LEGCO NEXT YEAR. I BELIEVE THAT MS ANNA WU BEST FITS THE BILL.

2. ANNA WU IS A SUCCESSFUL SOLICITOR. SHE IS INTELLIGENT, ARTICULATE AND SELF-POSSESSED AND HAS A LONG INVOLVEMENT IN LIBERAL CAUSES. SHE WAS AN ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG OBSERVERS, THE GROUP WHICH HAS PRODUCED A LARGE NUMBER OF LIBERAL PROFESSIONALS IN THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS CHRISTINE LOH. SHE CONTINUES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CIRCLES, ALTHOUGH SHE DOES NOT BELONG TO A POLITICAL PARTY. ANNA WU'S POLITICAL VIEWS INCLUDE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO CONSTITUTIONAL PROGRESS. SHE HAS STATED RECENTLY THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE PRESENTED IN MY POLICY ADDRESS CAN BE FAULTED ONLY FOR BEING TOO MODERATE. SHE IS FULLY PREPARED TO SUPPORT ITS PROPOSALS IN PUBLIC.

3. ANNA WU IS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF LAW SOCIETY OF HONG KONG AND OF THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE PANEL. SHE IS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SHE IS MARRIED TO FRANK CHING, AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, WHO IS A SUCCESSFUL AUTHOR AND CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY THE FAR EASTERN REVIEW.

4. ANNA WU HAS INDICATED INFORMALLY THAT SHE WOULD BE WILLING TO ACCEPT APPOINTMENT TO LEGCO IF THIS WAS OFFERED, BUT HAS ASKED FOR THIS TO BE DEFERRED UNTIL JANUARY, IN ORDER TO GIVE HERSELF TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY DOMESTIC AND BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS.

5. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S APPROVAL TO APPOINT MS ANNA WU AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JANUARY 1993 UNTIL THE NEXT DISSOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL. THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION IN THE PRESS HERE TODAY THAT ANNA WU WILL BE APPOINTED TO LEGCO. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL THEREFORE TO RECEIVE APPROVAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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