港總督府
GOVERNMENT HOUSE HONG KONG
58
PERSONAL AND HKA
431/1
CONFIDENTIAL
1
+KA-431/393.
INDEX
16 MAR 1978
Der Secrty &
P.P stit
13 February 1978
R
LALT
a pus
Chief
hit
бое
79 fila
63
Thank you for your letter asking me to stay on here instead of retiring this November. If this is what you and the Prime Minister want, naturally I will do it, and I am grateful for your confidence. As you say it will give me longer to work on one or two things here.
$15.
My only comment relates to timing. Your letter mentions 'next summer'. Please do not hesitate on my account to fix a date for my retirement that leaves whatever time you think desirable to appoint and train a successor. If my plans for retirement in November are to be changed, a month or two more or less next year would make no difference to me and my main concern is that the take-over should be tidy and successful and therefore not unduly rushed.
But it would be a help to me personally, and more important stop speculation here, if an announcement could be made fairly soon as to exactly how long the extension will be.
Original at: HKA 431/393/6
Thi Copy for:
Information only / Action-on Pants
CC: HKPF MACLEHOSE
уп
sei caly
ML
The Right Honourable Dr David Owen MP
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1
ん