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PRIORITY
CYPHER AT A
FM F C C 141235Z
DEDIP
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE.
HKK 1/9
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TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELEGRAT NU.BER 253 OF 14 MARCH. 1973.
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WATSON.
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 232: SENIOR APPOINTMENTS.
Des
15/3
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 ISSUE THE NECESSARY
INSTRUMENTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SEAL AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE PRESENT
CHIEF JUSTICE.
2. THE APPOINTMENT CAN NOW BE ANNOUNCED WITHOUT FURTHER FORMALİTY,
BUT YOU WISH TO CO-ORDINATE IT WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
+
3.
DEFORE ANNOUNCING THE LATTER, IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR YOU TO
AKE & FOR AL RITTEN OFFER TO ROBERTS AND TO RECEIVE HIS WRITTEN
REPLY. THE SUGGESTED TEXT OF THE OFFER IS IN MIFT.
4. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR PRIOR NOTICE OF THE DATE AND FORM OF
ARY ANNOUNCEMENT, SO THAT WE CAN RELEASE THE NEWS SIMULTANEOUSLY
HERE. THE ANNOUNCEMENTS SHOULD OF COURSE MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE
APPOINTMENTS HAVE DEEN APPROVED BY THE QUEEN AND THE SECRETARY OF
STATE RESPECTIVELY, BUT WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE PRESENT
INCUMBENTS LEAVE.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES:
HEAD HKION
HEAD G & G D
MR. LARMOUR
MR. WILFORD
SIR D. WATSON
COPIES TO:
MR. FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISER MR. RUSHFORD,
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