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Sir A. Burns.
Sir David Owen called today and we had a further discussion with yourself, Sir Cecil Bottomley and Mr. Spiller about the names suggested in No. 46. Sir David Owen does not know any of the three personally, but he is fully content to rely on Sir Clement Hindley's assurance that any one of the three would be well qualified, and he does not doubt that wald be personally congenial to him in the work. He thought Sir Athol Anderson's experience, which seemed to be confined to naval dockyards, was probably less appropriate than the commercial experience of Mr. Carpmael and Mr. Rowley. Of those two men should perhaps first be considered on account of his being seven years younger.
Rowley
Sir C. Bottomley mentioned that Sir Athol Anderson might be rather too big a personage to be content to take on the job as assistant to Sir David Owen.
a
A
Mr. Spiller had known Mr. Carpmael when they were both in the service of the Great Western Railway. He felt sure he would be personally congenial companion and an able adviser except that his experience was mainly as a railway engineer.
The possibility of Mr. Coode still being regarded as a candidate for the post was further mentioned, but Sir David Owen was himself impressed by the possible objections, particularly locally, to which his appointment might be open since he must be regarded as a partner in the firm of Consulting Engineers who would very likely be employed by the Hong Kong Government to carry out any works arising out of Sir David Owen's investigation.
The conclusion was that we should first approach Mr. Rowley and if he is free and attracted by the task we should ask him to come here and meet Sir David Owen and ourselves with a view to discussion of arrangements and terms. If the appointment did not attract him we should then approach Mr. Carpmael on similar lines.
"Oft Lerewith.
Surrant.
5.6.40.
56
To Rowley (w/ note)
6.6.460
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