TNAG-0589-FCO40-722-Private-visits-of-leading-personalities-from-Hong-Kong-to-UK-1976 — Page 21

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BRIEF

POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF THE GOVERNOR'S TERM OF OFFICE

BACKGROUND

1. There have, for some time, been a number of letters and petitions from Hong Kong expressing the hope that the Governor's term of office, which expires in October 1977, will be extended. Mr Pao himself raised the matter when he last called on Lord Goronwy-Roberts in February 1976. A delegation representing a number of Hong Kong Kai Fong (community welfare) associations did likewise when they called

on the Head of HKD in June.

2. The Governor himself has advised that representations of this

sort are a courteous and traditional feature of the last 18 months or so of the term of office of every Governor of Hong Kong, and are actuated partly by a desire to "give face" and partly by the hope of being accorded some honour before the incumbent departs.

LINE TO TAKE

3. If Mr Pao raises the matter, the PUS might say that no decision has been taken yet, that it would not be right to speculate on what advice the Secretary of State might give to HM The Queen about it in due course and that while we have every confidence in the present Governor, the normal rule in the Diplomatic Service is that officers retire at 60. It would be difficult to make any exception to this

rule.

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