TNAG-0363-FCO40-409-Appointments-of-senior-officers-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 16

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

Reference....

Sir Vincent Evans

Sir Duncan Watson

1.

separate copies to each

Hong Kong propose the promotion of Mr Hobley as Attorney-General in succession to Mr Roberts.

The re is no outside candidate and Mr Hobley is the senior and most suitable candidate in Hong Kong. You will recall that Mr Hobley's secondment to Bermuda was prematurely terminated at the request of the Governor of Hong Kong in order that he could succeed Mr Roberts. I have, therefore, approved the appointment for the purposes of Regulation 20 of Colonial Regulations.

2

Hong Kong also propose the promotion of Mr Thornton as Solicitor-General in place of Mr Hobley. Mr Thornton's promotion would involve the supersession of an officer who is senior to him in the same grade by a year, as well as being older and having three years longer in the public service. These points were drawn to our attention, and on the confidential reports of the two officers concerned during their service in the Crown Law Office (the other officer has magisterial experience for which he was well reported on) Mr Thornton would appear to be a better candidate than Mr Stratton whơm it is proposed he should supersede.

3. I have only one hesitation. I think that appointments at this level should be recommended by the Governor himself. The recommendation comes from Establishments Branch in Hong Kong. There is no other communication on Hong Kong Department's files which indicates that the Governor supports the recommendation. It must be highly doubtful that such a recommendation could be put forward without the Governor being aware, and approving, of it and were there to be some indication on the confidential reports of the Governor's assessment of the rival candidates, the absence of a particular recommendation would be a matter of little account. However, the Governor has not commented on the

Is this normal? | acc copies of the confidential reports which we have.

I thought it was usual for confidential sports

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sencir officers

in astonial tuit witm to

be countersigned

If only for the record, therefore, I think we should ask the Governor to confirm that he supports the recommendation of Mr Thornton and the supersession of Mr Stratton, for appointment as Solicitor-General. have asked Hong Kong Department to do this.

I

40 On the receipt of the Governor's confirmation, I would propose to approve the promotion for the purposes of Regulation 20 of Colonial Regulations.

by

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A.KR. 7.6.

6 June 1973

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PRN Fifoot

Mr. Ruchford 7.6. Sin D. Watson

STAFF

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Jebegan sout

IN CONFIDENCE

897465 400m 1/73 G.W.B.Ltd, Gip.863

6/6.