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STAFF-IN-CONFIDENCE
TO IMMEDIATE BRUNEI TELNO 36 OF 26 MARCH, 1973.
FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF DEPARTMENT WAS SENT TO HONG KONG TELNO 253 OF 14 MARCH.
BEGINS:
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PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WATSON.
YOUR TELNO. 232: SENIOR APPOINTMENTS.
(4)
1. THE QUEEN HAS NOW APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. JUSTICE BRIGGS AS CHIEF JUSTICE OF HONG KONG IN SUCCESSION TO SIR IVO RIGBY. PLEASE INFORM BRIGGS AND RIGBY, YOU SHOULD 13SUE THE NECESSARY INSTRUMENTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SEAL AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE PRESENT CHIEF JUSTICE.
2. THE APPOINTMENT CAN NOW BE ANNOUNCED WITHOUT FURTHER FORMALITY, BUT YOU WISH TO CO-ORDINATE IT WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
3.
BEFORE ANNOUNCING THE LATTER, IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR YOU TO MAKE A FORMAL WRITTEN OFFER TO ROBERTS AND TO RECEIVE HIS WRITTEN REPLY. THE SUGGESTED TEXT OF THE OFFER IS IN MIFT.
WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR PRIOR NOTICE OF THE DATE AND FORM OF ANY ANNOUNCEMENT, SO THAT WE CAN RELEASE THE NEWS SIMULTANEOUSLY HERE. THE ANNOUNCEMENTS SHOULD OF COURSE MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE QUEEN AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE RESPECTIVELY, BUT WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE PRESENT INCUMBENTS LEAVE.
ENDS.
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