TNAG-0284-FCO40-320-Appointment-of-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 46

CONFIDENTIAL

STAFF: IN CONFIDENCE

Recommendation

3.

I recommend that:-

(a) the announcement of Mr. MacLehose's new appointment

should be made in early November. We might think of

9 November as a provisional target date;

(b) Sir D. Trench and Mr. MacLehose should be informed

accordingly. A draft telegram for this purpose is

attached;

(c)

Mr. MacLehose should be authorised to inform the Danes

in confidence on his return to Denmark at the end of

October. This is also covered in the draft telegram.

Hong Kong Department and Western European Department agree.

Reasons

4. The question of the timing of the announcement turns mainly

on balancing two interests:-

5.

(a) the "Hong Kong" interest in stilling anxiety and

speculation by announcing Mr. MacLehose's appointment

at an early date;

(b) the "Danish" interest in ensuring that Mr. MacLehose

is able to present his premature departure to the

Danish Government in such a way as to minimise concern

and disappointment in Denmark that his tour there has

been cut short. Mr. MacLehose's view is that he can

bring the Danes to understand that his premature

1

departure is the result of unforeseen circumstances.

Sir D. Trench leaves Hong Kong in the middle of October and

returns there in mid-December.

It is known that his present tèrm

CONFIDENTIAL

STAFF: IN CONFIDENCE

/of office