TNAG-0363-FCO40-409-Appointments-of-senior-officers-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 86

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

F C O 161530Z

DEDIP

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

"

ali.

(26

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR BERMUDA TELEGRAM NO. PERSONAL 14

OF 16 FEBRUARY, 1973.

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WATSON

YOUR TELEGRAM

HONG KONG ----

(18)

TOP COPY

PERSONAL NO 0: APPOINTMENT OF SOLICITOR GENERAL

1. I REALISE YOUR PROBLEM AND THE PREMATURENESS OF THIS REQUEST BUT THE LOSS AND PROMOTION RESPECTIVELY OF HONG KONG'S TWO SENIOR LAW OFFICERS WAS NOT FORESEEABLE AND CREATES A VERY

SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR THEM.

2. 1 HOPE THAT, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THIS EXCEPTIONAL NEED - TO THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT. THERE IS CERTAINLY NO INTENTION BY

HMG TO TAKE ACTIONS DETRIMENTAL TO BERMUDA. WE ARE SEEKING THEIR

COLLABORATION IN RESOLVING AN UNEXPECTED PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY, AND IN FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION IN BERMUDA.

3. AS FOR HOBLEY'S REPLACEMENT, AS I SAID IN MY TELEGRAM PERSONAL NO 8,IF AFTER CONSULTING YOUR ADVISERS YOU DECIDE THAT YOU WOULD NEED AN OUTSIDE REPLACEMENT, WE WILL DO OUR UTMOST TO HELP (AND WILL THEN ADDRESS OURSELVES TO THIS QUESTIONS IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 4)-

BUT BEFORE HOBLEY WAS APPOINTED, CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN CIVEN TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A LOCAL ATTORNEY, AND HOBLEY'S APPOINTMENT WAS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT OF AS A STOP GAP. DESPITE THE INDICATIONS IN YOUR TELEGRAM, YOU MAY WISH TO EXPLORE WITH YOUR MINISTERS WHETHER THERE MIGHT NOT NOW IN FACT BE A POSSIBILITY OF A LOCAL APPOINTMENT.

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