CONFIDENTIAL
GREEN BRIEF No. 90
Mr. C. H. MacLehose C.M.G., M.B.E., Governor-designate
UNATTRIBUT BLE
Hong Kong
IF ASKED whether the appointment of Mr. MacLehose is in any way unusual, we should reply that since the Foreign, Commonwealth and Colonial Services combined, we have had the opportunity of chosing the best man for the job. As will be seen from Mr. MacLehose's background, most of his service has been in the Far East and he was indeed appointed to the Colonial Service at the beginning of his career.
(We can draw on details of his career saying how much of his time in the Service has been devoted to the Far East).
We can also add that it is well-known by those who have contacts with Hong Kong that Mr. MacLehose was very highly thought of in the Colony when he was Political Adviser there from 1959-1963.
2.
IF ASKED why we are announcing the appointment so far ahead of October 1971 when Sir D. Trench's term of office expires, we should reply that there has been a great deal of speculation about who would take over from Sir David and our announcement will put an end to that.
3.
IF ASKED whether the appointment of a career diplomatist implies any change in H.M.G.'s policy towards the Colony, we should reply that such speculation could not be further from the truth. There will be no change in H.M.G.'s policy towards Hong Kong.
4.
IF ASKED whether there is any substance in a report in the Hong Kong Standard that John Morgan, as head of Far Eastern Dept., chooses Ambassadors and Governors, we should reply that this story is without any foundation.
5.
IF ASKED whether there is any connection between Mr. Morgan's visit to Feking and the appointment of Mr. MacLehose (i.e. did Mr. Morgan consult the Chinese?), the answer is th t there was not.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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