CONFIDENTIAL
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4. Our Legal Counsellor has advised that while there is no legal impediment to the Governor signing the form, it may appear
somewhat inappropriate for him to do so given that the purpose of the form is to ensure that ExCo tender impartial advice to
the Governor. She recommends that Mr Patten does not sign the
form but, should he choose to do so, no legal problems would
arise.
5.
Governors of other dependent territories have never made a
Declaration of Interest of this sort. WIAD have no objection to
Mr Patten signing the form if he does so voluntarily and on the
condition that the details of any interests are kept
confidential.
6.
The Governor does not have any interests in Hong Kong which
would have to be declared. There is some political advantage in
him signing the form as he would be seen to be responding to a reasonable public request. It might also help reduce the demands for the Governor to pay Hong Kong salaries tax as he
could make clear, without revealing the contents of the form,
that he has no declarable interest in Hong Kong. It would be
apparent that, unlike some members of ExCo and LegCo, the Governor is not benefiting from large amounts of unearned income
in Hong Kong.
7.
I recommend that we do not raise any objection to the Governor's proposal, but draw his attention to points made by our Legal Counsellor and WIAD.
white.
N C G Whitney
Hong Kong Department
hk.decl.ADM
SLM
Zicketts
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CONFIDENTIAL
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