TNAG-2602-FCO40-3790-Administrative-support-for-Chris-Patten--new-Governor-of-Hon-1992 — Page 43

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CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

CONFIDENTIAL

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 09010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 761

OF 08120OZ MAY 92

170467

MOHOAN 4114

HKD

010/3

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

FROM SIR JOHN COLES, DUSS

GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE: SUPPORT STAFF

1.

I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW MR PATTEN'S LATEST THINKING ON THIS QUESTION AND TO SEEK YOUR ADVICE ON CERTAIN POINTS.

SPEECH WRITER

2.

JOB.

MR PATTEN WISHES TO APPOINT MR EDWARD LLEWELLYN TO THIS . HE AT PRESENT WORKS IN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY'S RESEARCH DEPARTMENT. HE IS AN EXCELLENT SPEECH WRITER. MR PATTEN MAY ALSO WISH TO USE HIM FOR OTHER FUNCTIONS, TO BE WORKED OUT AFTER ARRIVAL. MR PATTEN'S CLEAR PREFERENCE IS THAT HE SHOULD WORK FROM GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

PRESS ADVISER

3.

MR PATTEN SEES THIS PERSON AS ACTING AS HIS SPOKESMAN AND PERSONAL ADVISER. HIS PREFERRED CANDIDATE IS MARTIN DINHAM, WHO EARLIER WORKED FOR HIM AS PRIVATE SECRETARY AT THE ODA AND IS NOW HEAD OF SEADD IN BANGKOK. DINHAM HAS BEEN SOUNDED OUT AND SEEMS INTERESTED BUT BEFORE GIVING A FINAL VIEW WISHES TO KNOW HIS CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IN HONG KONG. MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THESE WILL NEED TO BE SUFFICIENTLY GOOD TO PERSUADE HIM TO DISRUPT PERSONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND TO TAKE THE DEGREE OF CAREER RISK THAT IS INVOLVED IN MOVING OUT OF THE ODA STRUCTURE FOR A TIME.

4.

I SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE ON THE

FOLLOWING:

(A)

IS IT RIGHT IN PRINCIPLE THAT THE PRESS ADVISER AND THE SPEECH WRITER SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN HMG? I MUST SAY THAT IT SEEMS THE RIGHT COURSE TO

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CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE