STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
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Wilford (away)
Mr
Sir D W
Watson
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Tels. I incre
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14/3
CHIEF JUSTICE AND COLONIAL SECRETARY, HONG KONG
45
1. The Queen has approved the appointment of Mr Justice Briggs.
The way is now clear for the Governor to announce this. Mr Fifoot
has advised, and I agree, that no further formalities are needed
until the formal appointment is made on Sir Ivo Rigby's retirement.
2. The Secretary of State has also agreed to the appointment of Mr Roberts as Colonial Secretary, and Mr Roberts has indicated that
he will accept. Gibraltar and General Department, however, advise that a formal offer should be made in writing to Mr Roberts and
should be accepted in the same way, before there can be any public
announcement.
3. It is obviously desirable that both appointments should be announced together (since if we announce the Chief Justice's
appointment first this will lead to renewed speculation about the CS).
The timing and form of the announcement are for the Governor
to decide. But he should keep us informed and we should simul-
taneously release the news in London. He will wish to avoid delay, since Sir Ivo Rigby is due to leave in May.
4. I submit two draft telegrams. The second of these, containing the formal offer to Mr Roberts, has been drafted by Gibraltar and General Department, who concur in this submission as does Mr Fifoot.
13 March 1973
cc: Mr Shaw
Mr Fifoot Mr Rushford
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
A C Stuart Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department