MIKE Hanson, the Governor's spokesman, is unlikely to thank anyone for comparing him with Sir Bernard Ingham, who was Lady Thatcher's powerful - and unpopular - press secretary for all but a few months of the former prime minister's 11-year reign.
Yet it is an analogy which must be made because of Mr Hanson's influential position within the Government information apparatus and the potentially dangerous precedent this sets for the future.
Mr Hanson has always made it clear he will stay for as long as Mr Patten asks him to - even if this means until 1997.
And it is rumoured the Governor has asked him to do precisely that, which not only implies Mr Patten is serious about staying until the handover, but also raises the real prospect of Mr Hanson assuming Ingham-like status.
For, as with his British counterpart, he will be a powerful press secretary, serving alongside a powerful leader for an extended period of time.
The irony is that it is Mr Hanson, who has always been more at ease working on policy than public relations, who should be in such a powerful PR position.