TNAG-2768-FCO40-3985-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 154

APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR (IF RAISED)

Decided well in advance of announcement that final Governor

would have a particular role and would therefore best be a politician. (If raised) Appointment of a local Chinese never a practical option. Chinese had long made it clear that this would be completely unacceptable to them.

Availability of Chris Patten allowed us to appoint to Hong Kong someone of particular talents and of course a good friend and colleague of the Prime Minister and I.

Me

- It seems that the Chinese misread this appointment (Chinese statements during summer 1992 revealed their suspicion that we had changed our policy on cooperation). This may have led them to pointless attempts to drive wedges between the

Governor and London.

5

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