TNAG-2602-FCO40-3790-Administrative-support-for-Chris-Patten--new-Governor-of-Hon-1992 — Page 111

SECRET AND PERSONAL

Deputy Governor

9. A more radical option for supporting the new Governor would be to appoint a Deputy Governor, either as a new executive layer between the Governor and Chief Secretary or in a more detached role like the US Vice-President, in order

to relieve the Governor of some ceremonial and

representational duties. If the Deputy Governor were an official from London, this would be even more objectionable locally than option (iii) above. A Hong Kong appointee

(local or expatriate) to such a post could help ease the 1997 transition by preparing the office of the post-1997 Chief Executive. Even if a Deputy Governor were a Hong Kong Chinese, the Chinese Government would be most unlikely to

agree that he/she should become Chief Executive in 1997.

But Hong Kong opinion would welcome the gesture of having a Hong Kong Chinese in this job, even if it were largely ceremonial. On the other hand, placing a senior expatriate

civil servant in it could facilitate localisation of the

Chief Secretary. Either way a Hong Kong appointee would not

remove the need for a UK official in Government House.

Press Adviser

10. A new Governor may well decide that he needs a Personal

Press Adviser. This is unlikely to be as sensitive as

importing officials to handle policy matters. There could

be some resentment about the creation of a Press Adviser,

who would become an influential figure and would draw influence away from the existing press and information

operation under the Chief Secretary's office. But these difficulties should be surmountable.

Senior Representative, Sino-British Joint Liaison Group

11.

The Senior Representative is a senior grade UK-based officer, supported by a Counsellor and two other diplomatic

staff. His office is paid for entirely by HMG. Under the

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SECRET AND PERSONAL