22
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
19 February, 1973
On 17 November, 1972 the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary recommended for Her Majesty's approval the name of Mr. Denys Tudor Emil Roberts for appointment as Chief Justice, Hong Kong in succession to Sir Ivo Rigby. The Queen approved this submission. Subsequently, however, the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has reviewed the question of the appointment of a successor to the Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong, Sir Hugh Norman-Walker, who is also due to retire in 1973. In the light of recent developments in Hong Kong he has concluded that the best candidate for this appointment would in fact be Mr. Roberts and that this appointment should take precedence over the proposed appointment as Chief Justice.
The appointment of Mr. Roberts as Chief Justice has not yet been formally executed. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary would therefore be grateful if you would enquire whether Her Majesty would be willing to consider a new candidate for appointment as Chief Justice in place of Mr. Roberts. If this is acceptable, he will submit the name of a new candidate for The Queen's approval.
Lt. Col. the Rt. Hon.
Sir Martin Charteris, KCB.,
KCVO., OBE.,
Buckingham Palace,
S.W.1.
Sgd. A.A.A.