TNAG-0363-FCO40-409-Appointments-of-senior-officers-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 130

3)

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 290145Z

DEDIP

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 115 OF 29 JANUARY. 1973

DESKBY 29/093ØZ

PERSONAL FOR VINCENT EVANS FROM GOVERNOR.

2 MIPT

YOUR TELEGRAM 77

هار

TEK 14/8

I DO NOT THINK THE REQUEST OF DE BASTO, LITTON AND MCELNEY FOR THE EXTENSION OF RIGBY'S TENURE NEED BE GIVEN MUCH WEIGHT. I HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT THE APPLICATION IS SUPPORTED BY THE BULK OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATIONS THEY PURPORT TO REPRESENT.

MAY REPRESENT THE FOLLOWING IS ONLY SPECULATION, BUT THE TELEGRAM LITTLE MORE THAN SYMPATHY FOR A LIKED MAN ON RETIREMENT AND A CERTAIN PREFERENCE FOR KEEPING THE DEVIL THEY KNOW. MOREOVER THEY ARE A RATHER SELF-IMPORTANT TRIO AND MAY MERELY WISH TO GET IN ON THE ACT. I THINK THAT EITHER OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN MIPT, IF ACTED ON, WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE LOCAL LEGAL PROFESSION.

2. THEY THEMSELVES GIVE THE REASON THAT 3 YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR

A MAN TO WORK INTO THE JOB AND GIVE OF HIS BEST. NONE OF US AGREE WITH THIS INDEED IT IS PROBABLY NO MORE THAN A RATIONALISATION OF THE DEVIL-THEY-KNOW ATTITUDE.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HD HKIOD

SIR V. EVANS. SIR D WATSON.