TNAG-2596-FCO40-3784-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 12

CONFIDENTIAL

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OF 041235Z JUNE 92

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PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD, AND PS/MR PATTEN.

NEW GOVERNOR: SUPPORT STAFF.

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THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON 2 JUNE THAT DINHAM AND LLEWELLYN WILL BE APPOINTED AS PERSONAL ADVISERS TO MR. PATTEN HAS SO FAR RECEIVED FAIRLY LOW-KEY COVERAGE IN BOTH THE ENGLISH AND CHINESE LANGUAGE PRESS.

2.

THE CHINESE LANGUAGE EXPRESS TODAY (4 JUNE) QUOTED AN FCO SPOKESMAN AS SAYING THAT THE TWO PERSONAL ADVISERS WOULD BE PART OF AN ADVISORY GROUP AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. THE NATURE OF THE WORK OF THE GROUP WAS YET UNCLEAR AND HAD TO BE WORKED OUT AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND OTHER HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ADVISERS AFTER MR. PATTEN'S ARRIVAL. THE SPOKESMAN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE NEW GOVERNOR HAD NO INTENTION TO CHANGE THE DUTIES OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY OR THE STRUCTURE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THAT ALL THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT HOUSE STAFF WOULD REMAIN IN POST.

3.

JOHN ELLISON REPORTED FROM LONDON FOR THE ORIENTAL DAILY THAT DINHAM AND LLEWELLYN WOULD FORM A NEW POLICY GROUP TO HELP MR. PATTEN FORMULATE HIS ADMINISTRATION POLICY FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE EXACT NATURE OF THEIR WORK AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH POLICY SECRETARIES WOULD BE WORKED OUT AFTER MR. PATTEN'S ARRIVAL. THE ORIENTAL DAILY ALSO QUOTED SOURCES AS SAYING THAT MR. PATTEN KNEW THAT THE GOVERNORSHIP WAS A LONELY JOB AND THAT HE NEEDED PEOPLE HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH TO WORK FOR HIM. A FEATURE IN THE HONG KONG DAILY NEWS SAID THAT THE SALARIES OF THE TWO WOULD BE PAID BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

4. THE SCMP HAD PURELY FACTUAL COVERAGE OF THE APPOINTMENTS YESTERDAY (3 JUNE). THEY REPORTED WHITEHALL SOURCES AS BEING ANXIOUS TO STRESS THAT MR. PATTEN DID NOT WANT THE APPOINTMENTS TO BE SEEN AS A SNUB TO STAFF AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE OR IN THE HKG GENERALLY. AN FCO SPOKESMAN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE TWO WOULD JOIN THE TEAM AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE BUT THAT THEIR

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