TNAG-2597-FCO40-3785-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 81

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL

b)

"Strictly Personal for Governor" with no accompanying prefix: Again, this would be used for telegrams which are destined for the Governor's personal attention. But to avoid the burden of actually handling them himself, Mr Patten could ask

Mr Dinham to handle them in the first instance.

I suppose there might be two or three telegrams a week in this category (more in some weeks). They would contain material which in our judgement the Governor would not wish to reach the Hong Kong Civil Service or even his own Private Office

(Mr Dinham excepted).

c)

d)

4.

"Personal for Governor":

This would

ensure that an incoming telegram was not distributed within the Hong Kong Government machine until it had been seen by Mr Patten or a person designated by him (I suggest the Private Secretary Mr Hoare);

Telegrams without preamble:

These would,

as now, be automatically circulated around the Hong Kong bureaucracy.

If Mr Patten agrees with the above, we shall ensure that everyone at this end knows the system and also briefs the communications officers at Government House and Mr Dinham shortly before Mr Patten departs.

fle Woles. flun

Sir John Coles

JU2AAK

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL