Cypher
IMMEDIATE
TOP SECRET
No. 1074
TOP SECRET
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 20 July, 1967. R. 20
ff:
馨
0822Z
Addressed to Commonwealth Office. Repeated POLAD Singapore, No. 257 (S. of S. please pass).
08573
(19)
3
My telegram No. 1030 paragraph 4.
Tyrer.
I very much hope it will be possible now to make an early announcement of Tyrer's impending retirement. Speculation is beginning to grow and it will very soon be necessary to give the press something more definite in response to enquiries. The present position is also embarrassing for the police.
2. Without knowing the outcome of his interviews in London it is not easy to suggest a formula. A simple Statement that he had applied to retire and that you had given approval seems unlikely to raise difficulty locally but would be strengthened if reference to medical reasons were appropriate. In the light of police actions since he left I do not think the communists can make much capital out of it.
I understand he has some four months' leave
3. outstanding.
Distribution:
[Passed as requested with advance copies to Foreign Office F.E. Dept. and
Commonwealth Secretary's Private Office]
Sign
P.S. to Mrs. Hart
Sir S. Garner
Sir A. Galsworthy
Mr. W.S. Carter Mr. A.W. Gaminara
TOP SECRET
SPECIAL CARE 20 JUL 1967