TNAG-0710-FCO40-876-Extension-of-term-of-office-of-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 25

香港總督府

GOVERNMENT HOUSE HONG KONG

PERSONAL AND

CONFIDENTIAL

+31/393/6

HKA 431393

R£%£1 € máð

INDEX

16 MAR 1970

NO d

LP. R.

す

stit

Der Secrty 1

-

13 February 1978

LABI

R.

a pus

Chief

@

See @879 file

Thank you for your letter asking me to stay on here instead of retiring this November. If this is what you and the Prime Minister want, naturally I will do it, and I am grateful for your confidence. As you say it will give me longer to work on one or two things here.

$5.

My only comment relates to timing. Your letter mentions 'next summer'. Please do not hesitate on my account to fix a date for my retirement that leaves whatever time you think desirable to appoint and train a successor. If my plans for retirement in November are to be changed, a month or two more or less next year would make no difference to me and my main concern is that the take-over should be tidy and successful and therefore not unduly rushed.

But it would be a help to me personally, and more important stop speculation here, if an announcement could be made fairly soon as to exactly how long the extension will be.

CC: HKPF MACLEHOSE

HKA 431)1

уп seanly

The Right Honourable Dr David Owen MP Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1

IA