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LNMDAN 9089 HMLNAN 9284
SECR
PP FCOLN
FM HOKON TO FCOLN
0308007 FEB
GRS 28
SECRET
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 163
OF 03080OZ FEBRUARY 93
APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER, INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.
1. FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC DEATH OF PETER ALLAN WE WISH TO SEEK THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S APPROVAL TO APPOINT BERTRAND EDOUARD DOGER DE SPEVILLE AS THE NEXT COMMISSIONER, ICAC.
2. DE SPEVILLE, NOW AGED 51, WAS BORN IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA AND IS A BRITISH CITIZEN. HE CAME TO HONG KONG IN 1981 AS A DEPUTY PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL, SERVING INITIALLY IN LAW DRAFTING AND LATER MOVING ON TO BECOME SECRETARY OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION. HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL IN 1985 AND TO LAW OFFICER IN 1992. SINCE 1991 HE HAS BEEN THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, IN WHICH POST HE HAS DISPLAYED A THOUGHTFUL, ANALYTICAL APPROACH WITH A FAIR AND FIRM STYLE OF MANAGEMENT. HE IS WELL BALANCED AND A GOOD COMMUNICATOR. WE BELIEVE HE HAS THE RIGHT QUALITIES TO LEAD THE ICAC AT THE PRESENT JUNCTURE.
3.
IF THIS APPOINTMENT IS APPROVED, DE SPEVILLE SHOULD OF COURSE BE SUCEEDED IN DUE COURSE BY A LOCAL OFFICER QUALIFIED IN TERMS OF ARTICLE 101 OF THE BASIC LAW. WE BELIEVE THAT TIMING OF EARLY 1996 FOR THIS WOULD BE ABOUT RIGHT. IN HANDLING THE MEDIA WE WOULD INDEED MAKE IT CLEAR THAT DE SPEVILLE WILL BE THE LAST EXPATRIATE COMMISSIONER.
THE GOVERNOR HAS AGREED TO THE APPOINTMENT. WE NOW THEREFORE SEEK THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S APPROVAL TO APPOINT BERTRAND EDOUARD DOGER DE SPEVILLE AS COMMISSIONER, ICAC FOR THREE YEARS WITH EFFECT FROM ABOUT 22 FEBRUARY 1993.
5. IN ORDER TO MINIMISE THE DANGER OF LEAKS WE WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT, IF APPROVED, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ANYTHING YOU COULD DO AT YOUR END TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS WOULD THEREFORE BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
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