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MONDAY, MAY 3, 1976
MR. SWIRE SAID THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION HAD MAINTAINED CONTACT WITH PARLIAMENT THROUGH THE ANGLO-HONG KONG GROUP AND DINNERS WERE HELD IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR GROUPS OF CONSERVATIVE AND LABOUR M.P.S.
HE THOUGHT THE DISCUSSION WHICH FOLLOWED THESE DINNERS WAS USEFUL AND SOMETIMES STIMULATING BUT HE STILL DESPAIRED OF SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ASKED IN THE HOUSE.
+MANY OF THEM RESULT IN ANSWERS WHICH GIVE M.P.S USEFUL FACTS ABOUT HONG KONG BUT SOME CAUSE A LOT OF WORK FOR INFORMATION WHICH IS REALLY NOT VERY RELEVANT, AND SOME ARE DOWNRIGHT RUDE,+ HE SAID,
MR. SWIRE SAID THAT SIR MICHAEL HERRIES WOULD NOT BE STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION BECAUSE HIS. BUSINESS COMMITMENTS IN SCOTLAND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO DEVOTE THE TIME HE WOULD WISH TO ASSOCIATION AFFAIRS. MR. WILLIAM LEE, OF WORLD-WIDE SHIPPING, WAS ALSO RESIGNING FROM THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE HE WAS RETURNING TO HONG KONG.
MR. SWIRE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ASSOCIATION'S SECRETARY, MR. TED BUSH, WHO IS RETIRING SHORTLY, AFTER HOLDING THE OFFICE FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS. AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT HIS SUCCESSOR WILL BE MADE SHORTLY.
SIR MICHAEL HERRIES AND MR. BUSH WERE ELECTED HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION.
NEW CHAIRMAN OF PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION APPOINTED
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THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR. DONALD LUDDINGTON AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION TO SUCCEED SIR RONALD HOLMES.
MR. LUDDINGTON, AT PRESENT THE GOVERNOR OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS IS EXPECTED TO ASSUME DUTY IN APRIL NEXT YEAR WHEN SIR RONALD'S TERM OF OFFICE ENDS.
MR. LUDDINGTON, WHO IS 55, GRADUATED FROM ST. ANDREWS UNIVERSITY AND SERVED IN THE BRITISH ARMY FROM 1940 TO 1946.
HE WAS FIRST APPOINTED TO HONG KONG IN FEBRUARY 1949 AS A CADET OFFICER. AFTER HOLDING A VARIETY OF APPOINTMENTS, INCLUDING THOSE OF NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT COMMISSIONER AND DEFENCE SECRETARY, HE WAS APPOINTED SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS IN MAY 1971.
MR. LUDDINGTON WENT TO THE WESTERN PACIFIC IN 1973 TO BE THE GOVERNOR OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.
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