TNAG-2595-FCO40-3783-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 84

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therefore accepted our recommendation that he travel via

Singapore, spending 3 nights there to recover from jet-lag

and to acclimatize a little to the heat. He will also be

able to renew acquaintance with Lee Kuan-yew and meet

Singapore Ministers to discuss Singapore's interests in Hong

Kong and Singapore insights into developments in China. Lord Wilson made a similar stopover in 1987.

6. However travelling via Singapore involves extra costs. The First Class air-fair London-Singapore-Hong Kong is

£2,680, so the total cost would be £10,720 ie £3,552 more

than the direct route.

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7. In the case of a Diplomatic Service officer required to travel an indirect and more expensive route for official

reasons, the normal form would be that his extra travel

costs would be met from official funds, but his family would either travel directly or, if they travelled with him, their

extra costs would be the officer's own responsibility.

However, Mr Patten's family will have an unusually heavy

representational role and the scrutiny of the Hong Kong

media will be intense. It is thus very desirable for

official reasons that they too should arrive in Hong Kong

reasonably relaxed and acclimatised. It would be strange

for them to arrive separately from Mr Patten.

8. I therefore see a good case for meeting all the extra cost from public funds. However, there is a risk that the Singapore stop-over will give rise to questions in Parliament or the media. There have already been envious comments about the Governor's level of remuneration, and there might be carping allegations that the Governor and his family were enjoying a tropical holiday at the UK

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