TNAG-2591-FCO40-3779-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 145

24-APR-1992 18:32

JAMES LEE

FOREIGN SECRETARY

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LONDON 24 APRIL 1992

appointing as Governor one of the top four or five people in

British political life.

INTERVIEWER:

How difficult a task does Mc. Patten face here? If he really

wants to put his stamp on the job and make an impression with the Hong Kong people, doesn't he run the risk of upsetting the

Chinese?

FOREIGN SECRETARY:

It is going to be a very difficult job and that is why he has

taken it and that is why I am particularly glad he has taken it. He has to stand up for the people of Hong Kong; they expect that

but they also expect him and us to do that without causing

commotion, without creating waves, without shaking confidence.

Those two things are not easy to do together as we found last year

but we managed it last year and I am sure that Chris will manage

it over the next five years.

INTERVIEWER:

But he clearly doesn't regard this job as a sinecure. He is going

to want to make his mark. How can he do that? How can he really

effectively leave his stamp in Hong Kong without upsetting the

Chinese?