TNAG-0428-FCO40-493-Appointments-of-senior-officers-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 37

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Finally, Mervyn Manby, who has been suggested by the Home Office as a possible candidate. It seems to us that he might possibly be the most suitable candidate for the post but we would not want to pre-empt your judgement, of course. I enclose a copy of a letter, giving a summary of his career, that was written by the ODA to the UN at Geneva when Mr Manby was being considered for a position as a general narcotics adviser in Iran. He was successful with his application and joined them in 1971 on a three-year contract. enclose a copy of the final confidential report on Manby from Kenya. John Champion, Head of Gibraltar & General Department here in the FCO, says he knew Manby when he was a rather formidable Head of Special Branch in Kenya. They later met in Tehran (1968 to 1970) and again after Manby had taken up the UN appointment in Geneva. His impression was that Manby had slowed down since his Kenya days but this might well have been due to the fact that he had found both jobs frustrating and had become discouraged. Champion is of the opinion that while Manby might not quite be the man he was, he could well take on a new lease of life in a job where his efforts really produced results.

5. I hope this information will be of some help.

A L Wotton

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department