CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1396
OF 220948Z MAY 92
Water Abegbord
Hus art (comme
033135
MDHIAN 5118
Acat
ha 27
CONFIDENTIAL
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD AND PS/MR. PATTEN.
NEW GOVERNOR: PRESS REPORTS.
1. MR. PATTEN'S VISIT TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON YESTERDAY (21 MAY) WAS WIDELY REPORTED IN THE HONG KONG PRESS. MR. PATTEN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HE WOULD CONSIDER WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE OFFER OF A KNIGHTHOOD ONLY WHEN HE WAS OFFERED SUCH AN HONOUR.
2. THERE WAS ALSO WIDE COVERAGE OF MR. PATTEN'S MEETING WITH MARTIN LEE AND YEUNG-SUM. THIS WAS MAINLY CONFINED TO WHAT UDHK REPRESENTATIVES HAD SAID TO MR. PATTEN. BUT THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL SAID THAT THE QUESTION OF APPOINTING MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED LEGISLATORS TO EXCO HAD BEEN DISCUSSED.
3. THERE WAS A CURIOUS REPORT IN TODAY'S SING TAO DAILY. THIS SAID THAT THE ''DECISION-MAKING CENTRE TT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND CHINESE OFFICIALS UNDERSTOOD THAT MR. PATTEN WOULD CHANGE THE EXCO RULES OF COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY AFTER HE TOOK OFFICE. EXCO WOULD CHANGE FROM BEING A DECISION-MAKING TO AN ADVISORY BODY, AS IN THE BASIC LAW. MR. PATTEN INTENDED TO APPOINT TO EXCO MEMBERS OF LEGCO WHO BELONGED TO THE UDHK, BUT THIS WOULD NOT HAVE ANY REAL EFFECT ON THE WORKINGS OF GOVERNMENT. TRANSLATION FOLLOWS BY FAX.
WILSON
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