TNAG-0284-FCO40-320-Appointment-of-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 25

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Chief Clerk

Mr. Daunt

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77

CONFIDENTIAL,

Governor of Hong Kong

Sir David Trench has agreed that the announcement of

Mr. MacLehose's appointment as Governor of Hong Kong should be

made on 17 October. Mr. MacLehose is content. He has already

warned the Danes who have show understanding.

2=

I submit a telegram to Hong Kong telling the Governor that

we agree with the proposed timing of the announcement.

I

submit also a draft letter giving the text of the proposed

If we send this by telegram the Governor will

announcement.

have to decypher it personally, which seems unnecessary.

3. The text of the proposed announcement and the timings have

been agreed with Mr. Wilford and with News Department.

Mr. MacLehose, to whom I spoke this morning, has, however,

pointed out that the current visit of the Head of Far Eastern

Department to Feking and the publicity which has surrounded that

visit may well have sown some seeds of suspicion in people's

minds in Hong Kong. This, followed shortly by the announcement

of the appointment of a Diplomatic Service officer to the

Governorship, could cause further speculation. Mr. MacLehose

hopes, therefore, that ir. Haydon will be given careful political

briefing on this point. I suggest that Mr. Wilford, to whom I

CONFIDENTIAL

/am