TNAG-0725-FCO40-928-Constitutional-provisions-for-the-succession-of-Governors-in-1978 — Page 62

Hx 1

1974

HKG 400/1

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTI

Enter &B.J. on 3/2/18

Meanwhile p.4. Ny

28

q

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

26 April 1978

tka 406/1

RECEIVED S

NO. 51

28 APR 1978

DESK OFFIULD

REGISTRY

INDEX

No

PA

Action Taken

28

/50/1

DORMANT COMMISSIONS

Would you please refer to Sir Alec Douglas-Home's letter in the PERSONAL AND SECRET series (reference HX 1/6) of 10 January 1974.

We are considering whether such "dormant letters" need to retain such a high classification and I should be grateful for your views. It has been suggested that there is no reason why the dormant commission should not be regarded as an unclassified document which may be published where appropriate. One snag we can see in publication is that this could make it embarrassing to change the designated successor if this were later thought necessary because of personnel changes. However we should be glad to know what you think and the classification you would think appropriate if you cannot agree to publication. At the very least we think it should be removed from the "personal" series.

We realise that there may be some existing cases in which it may be desirable (or necessary) to change the nominated officer, because, for example, the office originally designated may have been abolished, or have gone down in the local hierarchy. If this is so in your case, I should be grateful if you could let me know and I will arrange for an amended commission to be issued, whether or not the security classification is changed.

JA B Stewart

Hong Kong & General Department

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

5