1624
This shi be sufficient.
Mw.
CONFIDENTIAL
(3)
Dear Leslie
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG
27th January 1970
You will recall that during my recent visit to London we discussed the question of the appointment of a successor to Cowperthwaite as Financial Secretary. Cowperthwaite has now agreed to stay on until after the 1971 budget session; he would go on leave prior to retirement some time in April that year, which would give the new Governor the benefit of his advice during a reasonable initial period. I think we can be grateful to him for agreeing to do this.
My view is that, as Clinton maintains his unwillingness to be considered for the post, Haddon-Cave is our best choice. He is now fully competent to succeed, particularly after a period of a year as Deputy Economic Secretary and (by April 1971) two years as Deputy Financial Secretary; and I am sure that Hong Kong opinion would prefer him to any but a very exceptional appointment from outside.
We did recognize in our discussions that, if he had a weak spot, it was in the field of monetary rather than fiscal affairs and that a period of attachment to H.M. Treasury and the Bank of England would be useful strengthening. He himself recognizes
this and would be happy to be so attached.
In the light of our staffing problems and of Estimates programmes, we could not easily spare him for more than two months. The best time for us
Sir Leslie Monson, K.C.M.G., C.B., Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London, S.W.1.
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51 20TED 1970
HKKI/19
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