1a &
& Y
STRICTLY PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
ḤKA431
HKA 431393/6
Ra
་་་:
b Foreign and Commonwealth Office 77 80. 51
16 MAR 1978
DESK J
INDEX
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AISTRY Kation Taken
Ешь
London SW1A 2AH
11 24/1/7852 13/1/0s
Chief
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.
Cak
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
1
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.
IA
9
(DAVID OWEN)
Murray MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO.
CC: HKPF|MACLEHOSE
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