TNAG-0363-FCO40-409-Appointments-of-senior-officers-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 62

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT/A

FM F C 0 231835Z

DEDIP

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE.

29)

(HK)

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 221 OF 23 FEBRUARY, 1973.

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WATSON,

SENIOR APPOINTMENTS,

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOW APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF

DENYS ROBERTS AS COLONIAL SECRETARY, AND THE PALACE HAVE AGREED THAT WE MAY SUBMIT A REVISED RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CHIEF JUSTICE'S

APPOINTMENT,

2. PLEASE ASCERTAIN INFORMALLY FROM ROBERTS THAT HE WILL ACCEPT

THE NEW APPOINTMENT. THIS WOULD NOT PRECLUDE HIM FROM CONSIDERATION FOR APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF JUSTICE, HONG KONG WHEN THAT POST NEXT FALLS VACANT, THOUGH HE SHOULD APPRECIATE THAT THE QUESTION OF HIS SUITABILITY FOR APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF JUSTICE WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE ASSESSED AGAIN FROM EVERY POINT OF VIEW,

3. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ALSO AGREED TO NOMINATE BRIGGS FOR APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF JUSTICE. PLEASE ASCERTAIN FROM BRIGGS PRIVATELY AND IN STRICT CONFIDENCE WHETHER HE IS WILLING FOR HIS

NAME TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE PALACE FOR APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF

JUSTICE IN SUCCESSION TO SIR IVO RIGBY.

4. SEE M.I.F.T.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

HD HKIOD

HD GIBRALTAR & GENERAL DEPT:

MR RUSHFORD

SIR V EVANS

MR WILFORD SIR D WATSON

COPIES TO:-

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS