TNAG-0711-FCO40-877-Appointment-of-Chief-Secretary--Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 29

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HKA 431/393/7

KA BILO TM TROS.FY NO. 51 2 1 MAR1978

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PA

#CGISTRY

Action Taken

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

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15/3

LABI

SENIOR APPOINTMENTS IN HONG KONG

1.

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Ri

It has been agreed that Sir Murray MacLehose's appointment should be extended until August 1979. We need now to consider appointments to the posts of Chief Justice and Chief Secretary.

2. Chief Justice.

The Governor has reported that "until there is a new Chief Justice new life will not be injected into what is now a legally sound but rather flabby and much too expatriate body some of whose members are also out of touch with the community and its needs." He has recommended that Sir Denys Roberts, currently the Chief Secretary, should take over as Chief Justice as soon as possible but has said that he will need about six months away from the Administration before taking over. It is generally accepted in Hong Kong that Sir Denys Roberts will be the next Chief Justice and in view of his previous service as Attorney-General and legal experience he seems a suitable choice.

3.

Chief Secretary. The Governor has considered a number of candidates including Mr Cater, Mr Haddon-Cave and Mr Jordan. He regards Mr Haddon-Cave and Mr Cater as the front runners but on balance recommends the appointment of Mr Cater. Despite some reservations which the Governor has about Mr Cater and his age (56) I agree with the Governor that Mr Cater is the best choice for the job.

4. Timing. No decision has yet been made about the succession to Sir Murray MacLehose. It would clearly be un-fair to the new Governor, whether a political appointee or not, to act now in a way which would tie him for too long to a new Chief Secretary. Moreover in view of Mr Cater's age it would not be sensible for him to remain in this demanding job for too long. However, it is desirable that he should be there long enough to see the new Governor effectively settled in. This suggests an initial term of two years.

The Governor recommends that the changeover of Chief Secretary should take place in October/November but in view of what he says about the need for change in the Courts, and the desirability of giving Sir Denys Roberts adequate time off, I think that there is a case for bringing forward the appointment of the new Chief Secretary to, say, 1 July 1978.

5. I therefore recommend that, subject to the views of the Dependent Territories Appointments Board, we should agree to the

CC: HKA 373/393/2

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