HII σicli
RECEIVED IN REGSTRY NO. 51 18 MAR 1931
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
edo
NE
EXHALL COPY
GPS 150
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 171000Z MAR 81
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 294 OF 17 MARCH
INFO HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
FROM GOVERNOR FOR CLIFT.
1. AT AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ON RETURN HERE I WAS ASKED WHETHER
IN LONDON EXTENSION OF MY APPOINTMENT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED. THIS IS A ROUTINE LAST QUESTION AT PRESS CONFERENCES AND ALWAYS GETS A LAUGHT. I GAVE THE ROUTINE ANSWER I E 'NO, AS YOU KNOW MY TERM EXPIRES NEXT APRIL'. BUT UNDER SOME BADGERING I ADDED
I WOULD BE SORRY, BUT IT WAS TIME TO GO. FOR SOME INEXPLICABLE REASON (PERHAPS SUNDAY MORNING WITH LITTLE CONTENT TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE) THIS ROUTINE REPLY GIVEN MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR
HIT THE HEADLINES HERE, AND I SEE HAS BEEN PICKED UP IN THE UK
PRESS.
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD BE BRIEFED TO BE READY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS HERE ABOUT WHO MY SUCCESSOR WILL BE, WHETHER PEOPLE IN HONG
KONG WILL BE CONSULTED, AND WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE. 3. IT WOULD BE TACTFUL IF HE FOUND TIME TO DISCUSS WITH AT LEAST
THE SENIOR MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THE REQUIREMENTS OF A
SUCCESSOR AS HE SEES IT.
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
AD/HRED (1)
SIRE
YOUDE
MR DONALD
CONFIDENTAL
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