TNAG-2602-FCO40-3790-Administrative-support-for-Chris-Patten--new-Governor-of-Hon-1992 — Page 51

CONFIDENTIAL : SENIOR STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

14

Sir John Coles

From:

John Morris

PS/Mr C Patten

Date:

5 May 1992

CALL ON MR PATTEN BY BARONESS DUNN:

SUPPORT STAFF

I have minuted separately on other matters discussed during this call.

1.

-

2. Mr Patten wanted to put Baroness Dunn's mind at rest about the rumours in the press that he would be arriving with a great entourage. This would be both unnecessary and insulting to the Hong Kong Civil Service and have the reverse effect on morale to that which he wished. He wanted to govern through the Civil Service, not against its grain. That said, he would need some advice he was not an FCO man. He might also wish to bring someone who had worked with him before, to advise on the press and PR side and, at a very junior level, someone to help with speech writing, and to keep open his lines with the higher reaches of the Party here in the UK. But he had no intention of bringing a team. Baroness Dunn commented that no one in Hong Kong seriously thought that the press rumours were true.

Thomin

John Morris

CP1ABY

CONFIDENTIAL : SENIOR STAFF IN CONFIDENCE