Reference
Mr. S.J. Barrett
Personnel Operations Department
The
Governorship of Hong Kong
I think that the draft Submission attached to your minute of 15 September very fairly states the conflict of interest in this matter between V.B.D. and Hong Kong Department. I am prepared, reluctantly, to accept your proposed compromise whereby the announcement of the appointment of the new Governor should be delayed until the end of this year/early 1971. I do, however, find myself wondering whether the circumstances in Hong Kong really are so exceptional that we have to announce the name of the new Governor nearly one year in advance. Personally I should have thought it entirely reasonable to postpone the announcement until about two months before the new Governor leaves his present post i.e. February/March, 1971. would, after all, be over six months in advance of him taking up the appointment.
This
2. I think that we should certainly take into account the views of the Governor-designate who will in any case be leaving his present post after less than 18 months.
(J.K. Drinkall)
16 September, 1970
c.c.
Mr. Laird
Hong Kong Department
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE