Staff-in-Confidence
R
Kr. Haydon
c.c. Mr. Day
Governor of Hong Kong
Your minute of 9 October about the appointment of Mr. MacLehose.
2. I have only a few minor amendments to suggest to your draft at Flag 'C' which I have taken the liberty of showing to Mr. Crowson (FED) :-
Unattributable briefing
(a) Paragraph 4. Since this story is now, I hope,
dead', this paragraph might be put into the past tense and, at the suggestion of Mr. Crowson, the word "whatsoever" deleted.
(b) Paragraph 5. Here again, I think the paragraph might be in the past tense, ending up simply "the answer is that there was not".
(c) Paragraph 6. A small point arises. Mr. Royle did in fact arrange that the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils should be informed of Mr. MacLehose's appointment before the former's arrival in Hong Kong (he is there now) so that he could discuss it with them. I suggest that the paragraph be cut out altogether, or, alternatively, that the following words be added – "but that he did of course take the opportunity presented by his visit to discuss the appoint- ment privately with the Hong Kong authorities.
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(d) Paragraph 8. Although the arrangements for Governors are not the same as those for officers of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service, it is relevant to note that the normal age of retirement of an officer holding a pensionable office is 55. Indeed, with the approval of the Governor and, if the officer was appoin- ted with the approval of the Secretary of State, with the Secretary of State's approval as well, an officer may retire at 45.
3.
I think "the unforeseen circumstances" mentioned in paragraph 2 of Mr. MacLehose's letter to Mr. Day of 1 October must be a reference to the fact that it was certainly not foreseen at the time Mr. MacLehose was appointed to Copenhagen that he would be in line for appointment subsequently as Governor of Hong Kong. decision that Sir David Trench should be invited to extend his service as Governor for a further year from October 1970 was taken shortly after the visit of the then Secretary of State to Hong Kong last April.
4.
The
I am returning with this minute all the documents attached to your minute of 9 October, and I am sending a copy of this minute to Mr. Day.
E. 0. Laird
Hong Kong Department 12 October. 1970.