Sir David Trench GCMG MC Government House HONG KONG
11 February 1971
Many thanks for your letter of 6 February.
I entirely agree with the procedure you suggest about invitations, If you could let me have the list and the recommendatalens a day or two before we meet on 9 Jume it might save some time.
Squeak and I are used to a fairly heavy evening schedule, but I was hoping, during the daytime of the first few months, to leave myself as free as the normal weekly cormitments permit, o visit around and familiarise myself with what de gedre on in the Colony. I would be reluctant to be liverta are his for other engagement. except in the case of clear or traditional "muste". However, we can talk all this over in June.
I will be leaving here on 2 May and will then he spending some time at home in Scotland. I would like to combine s this with some reading of briefs on Hong Kong, so as to bring myself up to date before going on visits and calls, It would therefore be a great help if a set of briefs could be ready for me by the beginning of May. The mos convenient form for myself would be for the briefs to be written on a departmental basis. I should hope that sad brief would include a section on issues which are current or likely to be submitted shortly, what the arguments are, and when the decision will have to be taken.
It would also be a great convenience if the briefs were separated into the main section, which should be graded 'Restricted', and anything really 'Secret'.
Secret'. The latter I would have to leave in the FCO and could not take home.
CM MacLehose
Copy to: E O Laird Esq CMG MBE, Hong Kong Dept, FOO