Cypher
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OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
Sent 13 July, 1967. 2200Z
07403
@
IMMEDIATE
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No. 1430
Addressed to 0.A.G. Hong Kong.
Repeated IMMEDIATE to POLAD Singapore.
3) Your telegram No. 1030.
Tyrer.
We are very glad you have been able to get Tyrer to agree to retire.
20
We agree with general line of proposed announcement in paragraph 2 but, unless he will actually be bringing home "proposals for strengthening the force to meet the present circumstances" we think it would be better to leave this out; otherwise it might give rise to awkward questions here e.g. in Parliament.
3. If announcement is made in Hong Kong before his departure, Press could be waiting for him on arrival here. There may be risks in this unless you consider we can rely on his discretion. In the circumstances we hope you can defer announcement until following day unless you see great difficulties in this at your end.
40 We quite understand the point in your paragraph 5.
We will telegraph again when we have seen Tyrer.
(Passed D.S.A.0. for repetition to P.A. Singapore)
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/Distribution