TNAG-0284-FCO40-320-Appointment-of-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 35

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

HONG KONG

PERSONAL

23rd September 1970

14

Dear Laird

You may remember my saying, when you were

here recently, that I thought mid-December, on my return, would be the latest date for some announcement to be made about my successor if undesirable speculation was not to start up again.

It seems I was too optimistic, as the attached cutting attests. Of course, this particular article is such nonsense that it will no doubt (or so I hope) be taken by the Chinese for what it is mere kite-flying to try to get a denial or comment of some kind. But the urge to needle us into a response may well get wilder and wilder as time goes on, and there is always the danger in the end that something damaging will be said.

I think this re-inforces my view that mid-December is about as late as it would be wise to leave it: but of course I am speaking purely from the Hong Kong point of view.

5 IN

Yuus ever

R

Hrund HKK 25/4

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E.O. Laird Esq., CMG, MBE, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London, S.W.1.