SODE 18 - n
Mr the boren
I was
Reference
Confidential HKI 382/1
MKK
1. LIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
IN
2 5 oct 1978
SK OF
REC
68
finally able to get through to Sire. Woods this afternoon and asked whether Is Crane could be available next April to go to Hong Kong. He was a little bit miffed, claiming that he had been keeping three weeks free in Crane's timetable in January, sice nobody had told him anything since the Govenor wrote in thay to ask if N Crane could retion to Hong Kong untuk "early the New Year". I explained about the need to wait until Nolfenry was the saddle, which provoked a further complaint that nobody had said anything to him officially yet about standing down the various candidates the Home Office had lined up for the tong Kong Police Commissioner post!" I explained that the decision had only just been taken and that the Governor was writing officially both to him and to Sir Robert Armstrong. In the meantime, I confirmed that he could incleed now tell Ar Pain that he had not got the job.
2. With hindsight, one can say that it would have been better so if the Governor had stuck to one channel of communication - either making all his contacts with the Home Office though us in which casene would have been aware of the loose ends), or leaving us out of it altogether (in which case, at least, we should not have to for been on the receiving end of Sir Colin Woods understandable irritation).
3. Sir Colin later rang back to confirm that he had spoken to No Grave, and that a visit of 2-3 weeks - April would be O.K
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