XN000022-1985-01-04 — Page 7

FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 19-5

6

GOVERNOR PAYS TRIBUTE TO SIR PHILIP

****

THE GOVERNOR THIS AFTERNOON PAID A WARM TRIBUTE TO SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS RETIREMENT NEXT JUNE.

HE SAID, HONG KONG IS IMMENSELY GRATEFUL TO SIR PHILIP FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE OVER MORE THAN A DECADE, FIRST AS FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND LATER AS CHIEF SECRETARY. IN THESE CAPACITIES, AND AS AN EX OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. HE HAS MADE A UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES IN MANY FIELDS.

+SIR PHILIP'S DEDICATION TO THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG HAVE # HIM WIDE RESPECT. I PERSONALLY AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR HIS LOYAL SUPPORT AND WISE COUNSEL.+

REFERRING TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MR AKERS-JONES' APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF SECRETARY TO SUCCEED SIR PHILIP, THE GOVERNOR SAID:

+ IN MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, HONG KONG HAS A WORTHY SUCCESSOR AS CHIEF SECRETARY. NO ONE HAS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MANY FACETS OF HONG KONG LIFE, AND OF THE CONCERNS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY. HE TOO HAS LONG EXPERIENCE OF, AND HAS MADE A

IN PARTICULAR, DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO, GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG.

HE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS OF OUR PLANS FOR MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

+ IT IS FITTING THAT HE SHOULD TAKE OVER AS CHIEF SECRETARY AT A TIME WHEN THESE PLANS ARE BEING PUT INTO EFFECT.+

NO PLAN TO RETURN

* * *

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ON HIS RETIREMENT IN JUNE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID THIS EVENING THAT HE WOULD RETURN TO THE UNITED KINGDOM AFTER HIS RETIREMENT.

HE ADDED THAT HE HAD NO PLANS TO SEEK ANY EMPLOYMENT IN HONG KONG NOR TO RETURN TO THE TERRITORY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

ON THE TIMING ON HIS RETIREMENT, SIR PHILIP POINTED OUT THAT HE WAS A CIVIL SERVANT RETIRING IN THE NORMAL WAY AFTER 34 YEARS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. THE NORMAL RETIRING AGE FOR CI. IL SERVANTS WAS 55. WHERE EXTENSIONS WERE INVOLVED, THESE WERE NORMALLY DONE ON A TWO-TWO-ONE SAGIS -- TWO YEARS, TWO VFORS AND ONE YEAR.

/HE ADDED