DINIUILI FEKSUNAL AND CONFIDENTIAL HKA 431/1
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HKA421 3936 Foreign and Commonwealth Office
16 MAR 1978
./7 NO. 51
Ja Si
DESK J INDEX
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GISTRY pastion Taken
London SW1A 2AH
24/1/7850
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CC. 13/PUS
Diy CER
I have been very relieved to see the way in which you all have weathered the storm over the amnesty and are steadily getting things under control. Time seems to be proving the rightness of your initial decision. Your instincts were clearly better than mine! It proves how vital it is to have the right person as Governor of Hong Kong and one with good political judgement.
I have discussed with the Prime Minister your tour of duty which is at present due to end this October. We both would be very
pleased if you were willing to stay on until the summer of 1979. I should very much prefer you to be able to carry through your present plans for reform so that your successor would be supported by a police force and administration which had had time to settle down again under your direction. I know how heavy a burden you carry and how much
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you must be looking forward to a break from the strains which you face, but I am convinced that it would be in Hong Kong's interest and in the interest of this country's relations with Hong Kong if you were willing to stay on for a further period. I gather that October is
not a good time for a changeover because of budgetary reasons and a little more time will give us a better opportunity of finding the right person to be your successor.
I am sorry to ask this of you and, though I will well understand
if you decide that you cannot stay, I hope that you will decide to do so and your extension will be seen by everyone in Hong Kong as a mark
of our respect and confidence in you personally.
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3 (58
Murray MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO.
(DAVID OWEN)
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CC: HKPF|MACLE HOSE
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Original at HKA 431/393/6
This Copy for:
Inforination only / Action-on
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