15 Oct 2004

Queens formally appoints PNG's governor-general

2:50 pm on 15 October 2004

The British Queen has formally appointed a vice-regent in Papua New Guinea.

Sir Paulias Matane is heading home after meeting PNG's official head of state in London early yesterday morning.

The Post Courier newspaper reports Sir Paulias as saying the Queen told him she might send one of her children to visit PNG next year.

Sir Paulias says the Queen was very interested in what PNG was preparing for next year's thirtieth anniversary of independence.

He says the conversation did touch on politics but insisted there was little talk about the bungled procedures that marred his election to the vice-regal role.