TNAG-2451-FCO40-3568-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 118

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MDHIAN 2283

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 07110OZ FCO

TELNO 2458

OF 071005Z OCTOBER 92

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD.

FROM GOVERNOR.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: RESIGNATION OF MRS.RITA FAN.

WHEN I SAW RITA FAN THIS MORNING TO TELL HER THAT I WAS ACCEPTING HER RESIGNATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WOULD ALSO BE RESIGNING WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. IN HER LETTER OF RESIGNATION, SHE ATTRIBUTES THIS DECISION TO THE INCREASING POLITICISATION OF ISSUES BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE COUNCIL AND HER INTENTION NOT TO CONTEST THE 1995 ELECTIONS.

2. IN RESPONSE TO ANY PRESS QUERIES ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S REACTION, WE WILL TAKE THE LINE THAT I AM SORRY SHE HAS TAKEN THIS DECISION, BUT THAT IT IS OF COURSE ONE FOR HER ALONE TO TAKE, AND THAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTRIBUTION SHE HAS MADE AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SINCE HER APPOINTMENT IN 1983.

3. I WILL BE SENDING MY RECOMMENDATION ON WHO SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO FILL THE RESULTANT VACANCY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN DUE COURSE.

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