PP HONA KOT
CPS 150
DE YOU
CONFIDENTIAL
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
FM FCO 12180OZ JAN 81
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
HKA 431/393/7
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
06 FEB 1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
No
BBK
REGISTRY Action Taken
Awakk
TELEGRAN NUNDER 24 OF 12 JANUARY
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM YOUDE.
FCO TELMO 1000 CE 3 DECEMBER 1980: NEW POLITICAL ADVISER.
MIR
sex
ROPIN MCLAREN IS DELIGHTED WITH APPOINTMENT WHICH THE NO 1 BOARD
AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAVE AGREED SHOULD BE IN CRADE 3.
1.
2. WE EARLIER HAD IN MIND THAT MCLAREN SHOULD APRIVE IN HONG KONG IN
THE SUMMER. THIS TIMING HAS NOW SLIPPED SOMEWHAT. THE MAIN REASON IS
THAT WE CANNOT GET A SUITABLE SUCCESSOR TO MCLAREN IN FED UNTIL
NOVENDER. WITH A GAP HERE MCLAREN COULD REACH HONG KONG BY MID
OCTOBER. I HOPE THIS WILL SUIT YOU.
3. THIS TIMING WOULD AVOID TOO CLOSE A CHAPGE WITH THE APA. MARGOLIS
IS DUE TO SUCCEED ORR AS ASSISTANT POLITICAL ADVISEP IN JULY. PLCO
MCLAREN MOULD HAVE TAKEN SUMMER LEAVE HERE AND HIS DAUGHTERS WOULD
HAVE TAKEN SUMNER LEAVE HERE AND HIS DAUGHTERS WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO
OUT AT ONCE ON HOLIDAY JOURNEYS.
4. VE HAVE STILL NOT IDENTIFIED A FIRM POSTING FOR VILSON ALTHOUGH
THERE ARE ATTRACTIVE POSSIBILITIES AROUND THE TURN OF THE YEAR.
AN OCTOBER TIMING WOULD MAKE A HANDOVER PETWEEN HIT AND MCLAREN
POSSIBLE. HOW LONG WOULD YOU LIKE ?.
5. SUBJECT TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS THIS SHOULD CLEAR THE WAY FOR
WILSON TO JOIN THE MOUNTAINEERING EXPEDITION TO CHINA. PLEASE LET HIM
KNOW ABOUT THIS AND AFOUT HIS SUCCESSOR.
5.
GRATEFUL ALSO TO KNOW WHETHER THIS IS THE SORT OF APPOINTMENT YOU
WOULD ANNOUNCE, IF SO WE WILL KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL YOU ARE
READY.
CARRINGTON
HINN
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