8758
HKK010/4 13.31
CONFIDENTIAL
RESU
2 5 JUN 1978
28
Flag A
HKP4131/393/7
14
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Flag F ATTACHED.
Hurry Tel sent
Mr Murray
HONG KONG APPOINTMENTS
INDEX
26
RY
on Teken
1. As you know, the Governor of Hong Kong is proposing to inform his Executive Council of a series of senior appointments on 27 June and to announce them on the same day (Hong Kong telegram no. 766).
2.
The appointments concerned are:
a)
Sir Denys Roberts as Chief Justice (in May 1979);
b) Mr Jack Cater as Chief Secretary (end September 1978); c) Sir Donald Luddington as Commissioner Against Corruption
(July/August 1978);
a) Mr I M Lightbody as Chairman of the Public Services
Commission (July/August 1978).
Sir Denys Roberts' appointment will need to be approved by The Queen before it can be announced; I have submitted about this separately. Mr Cater's appointment was approved by the Secretary of State on 4 May and Sir D Luddington's by Lord Goronwy-Roberts on 5 June.
3.
These proposals Having consulted
The Governor's proposal to appoint Mr Lightbody as Chairman of the Public Services Commission is new. His original intention had been that Mr F K Li should take over this post when it is vacated by Sir D Luddington; and that Mr Akers-Jones should succeed Mr Li as Secretary for Home Affairs, combining this post with his present one of Secretary for the New Territories. were approved by Lord Goronwy-Roberts on 7 June. his senior advisers, the Governor now feels that it would be premature to combine the posts of Secretary for Home Affairs and the Secretary for the New Territories and therefore intends to leave Mr Li where
This is he is for the time being (Hong Kong telegram no. 765). rather a pity: as the Governor recognizes, the appointment of a highly respected local officer as Chairman of the Public Services Commission would have been very well received, both in Hong Kong and in this country. But we must clearly accept Sir M MacLehose's judgement. Mr Lightbody is a capable officer with wide experience and should make an effective Chairman. I attach a brief biographical
note.
4.
I submit a self-explanatory draft telegram.
Ruaugh
RJT McLaren
23 June 1978
CONFIDENTIAL
Hong Kong & General Dept