PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
seriously, but does emphasise the need for some respectable if confidential process to have been gone through.
5.
The Secretary of State might send Sir S Y a letter, which could be telegraphed via me, explaining what his decision is, and his reasons for it, and why he has not been able to take it earlier, and saying that while it must be his own decision, he has taken it in the light of his discussion with Sir S Y in March, and he would be reassured before making an announcement to know that Sir S Y sees no local objection. He could add that before replying Sir S Y might like to discuss with me.
6.
It never pays to attempt to hustle these people, and I suggest that a week be allowed, even in this inevitably tight timetable, between the Secretary of State's telegram and Sir S Y Chung's reply.
7.
One further point. In discussion in August we agreed that if Teddy scratched we should advise the Secretary of State against a local candidate such as Jack Cater or Philip Haddon-Cave. Personally I think the former too old (60) and too emotional, and the latter too dogmatic and controversial. Moreover lack of experience outside Hong Kong and in particular of London and Peking would be a drawback. But the conclusive argument is that anybody who has worked in Hong Kong a long time inevitably trails behind him a long load of successes and failures, friends and enemies, likes and dislikes etc, which make it difficult for him to be seen as an impartial and accepted Governor. Moreover the chance would be missed of the injection of a totally new personality and new style which I personally think an essential periodic feature of the political life of a place like this without periodic elections. For all these reasons a local appointment has never been made so far. But with the long delay in announcing a successor local names have been canvassed increasingly, and loose groups have even formed favouring either Jack or Philip I am sure
with the connivance of neither. There may even have been something of the sort in London too.
I therefore urge you not to be persuaded by any such advice which in some circumstances might appear
8.
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