PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
F C O 161530Z
DEDIP
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
"
ali.
(26
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR BERMUDA TELEGRAM NO. PERSONAL 14
OF 16 FEBRUARY, 1973.
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WATSON
YOUR TELEGRAM
HONG KONG ----
(18)
TOP COPY
PERSONAL NO 0: APPOINTMENT OF SOLICITOR GENERAL
1. I REALISE YOUR PROBLEM AND THE PREMATURENESS OF THIS REQUEST BUT THE LOSS AND PROMOTION RESPECTIVELY OF HONG KONG'S TWO SENIOR LAW OFFICERS WAS NOT FORESEEABLE AND CREATES A VERY
SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR THEM.
2. 1 HOPE THAT, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THIS EXCEPTIONAL NEED - TO THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT. THERE IS CERTAINLY NO INTENTION BY
HMG TO TAKE ACTIONS DETRIMENTAL TO BERMUDA. WE ARE SEEKING THEIR
COLLABORATION IN RESOLVING AN UNEXPECTED PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY, AND IN FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION IN BERMUDA.
3. AS FOR HOBLEY'S REPLACEMENT, AS I SAID IN MY TELEGRAM PERSONAL NO 8,IF AFTER CONSULTING YOUR ADVISERS YOU DECIDE THAT YOU WOULD NEED AN OUTSIDE REPLACEMENT, WE WILL DO OUR UTMOST TO HELP (AND WILL THEN ADDRESS OURSELVES TO THIS QUESTIONS IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 4)-
BUT BEFORE HOBLEY WAS APPOINTED, CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN CIVEN TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A LOCAL ATTORNEY, AND HOBLEY'S APPOINTMENT WAS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT OF AS A STOP GAP. DESPITE THE INDICATIONS IN YOUR TELEGRAM, YOU MAY WISH TO EXPLORE WITH YOUR MINISTERS WHETHER THERE MIGHT NOT NOW IN FACT BE A POSSIBILITY OF A LOCAL APPOINTMENT.
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