The British government's decision to nominate Mr Chris Patten, the former governor of Hong Kong, to preside over the commission on policing in Northern Ireland is a shrewd one. Mr Patten has indicated his readiness to accept the position, provided there is a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum. This is scarcely surprising; it is a prestigious and high-profile post but it also represents an opportunity to resolve one of the most intractable problems in the troubled history of Northern Ireland.
It would be difficult to think of someone better suited for the role; Mr Patten combines intellectual firepower with a common touch and an appealing pen-chant for self-deprecation. Last July, he oversaw the sensitive handover of Britain's last great colony in Hong Kong with political sure-footedness, great style and no little humour.
The architect of Mr John Major's surprise election victory in 1992, he is widely regarded as the leading Conservative of his generation. As a Northern Ireland minister in the Thatcher government he played a pivotal role in the negotiations which led to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. He has a range of other ministerial experience.
The response to his nomination has been encouraging; there have been the predictable howls of outrage from the Unionist fringe but the warm reaction to the announcement from both Mr Ken Maginnis and Mr Seamus Mallon give good grounds for optimism that Mr Patten will be seen as an honest broker by both communities in the North.
The challenge facing Mr Patten is immense. The Belfast Agreement charges the commission with the task of formulating proposals which are designed to ensure that Northern Ireland has a police force "that can enjoy widespread support from, and is seen as an integral part of, the community as a whole". The commission, which will report no later than the summer of next year, is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the composition, recruitment, training, culture, ethos and symbols of the force will allow for "constructive and inclusive partnership with the community at all levels".
The commission will face conflicting demands from both communities in the North about the future shape of policing and it will have to address the concerns of the RUC itself. In his interview in the Daily Telegraph last week, the Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan, signalled his concern about the dangers of change being imposed on the force for political purposes.
It will require courage and leadership to make the case for a fundamental reform of policing arrangements in such circumstances, although it must said that the climate for such change would be more propitious than at any time in the force's history - if the Belfast Agreement is endorsed with a powerful majority in next month's referendum. Senator George Mitchell has already shown what can be achieved by a skilled politician who earns the respect and trust of all sides; Mr Patten has the qualities required to emulate that success.