K271-
PA on appt. of Givernor file
ANG
2,6.70.
Miss E. M. Booker,
News Department
Reference..
In Gamaniara In the Jila pl.
ی
En. 46
We spoke on the telephone yesterday about the extension of Sir David Trench's appointment as Governor of Hong Kong.
2.
Would you please arrange for the following announce- ment to be made at today's news conference at 1230 p.m.
"Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to approve
the extension of Sir David Trench's term of office
as Governor of Hong Kong until October 1971".
Sir David Trench completed his original appointment in April 1969. His term of office was extended for a year to April 1970 and then for six months to October 1970.
3.
4.
The following notes for supplementaries may be of use to you :-
Q.
A.
Why has a further extension of tenure been made?
Because the Secretary of State decided that this would be in the best interests of the Colony. The Secretary of State is grateful to Sir D. Trench for agreeing to the extension of his term of office.
Q. Was no other candidate available?
A. Other candidates were considered.
Q.
Was local opinion consulted?
A. The Secretary of State was able to consult local opinion for himself during his stay in Hong Kong in April.
Q. Is the extension because of the General Election?
A. No, the Secretary of State decided that this would be in the best interests of the Colony. But the effect of it is of course that a decision binding future govern- ments has not been taken at this moment, and this point was in the Secretary of State's mind when he decided to extend the Governor's term.
Q. Is the extension of the Governor's term not likely to be offensive to the Chinese, in view of their language about him at the time of the 1967 troubles?
Copy to:
Sir L. Monfion
A.
We have no reason to believe this.
Mr. Wilford
Mr. Barrett
(Personnel
(Ops.) Dept.)
28 May. 1970
(E. 0. Laird)
Hong Kong Department
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Private notes are available after approval.