TNAG-0830-FCO40-1038-Extension-of-term-of-office-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governo-1979 — Page 42

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

HKA 431/393/6

BY NO. 51

2 0 MAR 1979

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

15 March 1979

By

Dear B

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you,

PA

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I AM -

Sir Murray MacLehose's appointment as Governor of Hong Kong was extended for a third time in March 1978 and is now due to expire in August this year. As you know, Dr Owen

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discussed this with the Prime Minister on 13 March and agreed

with him that it would be right in present circumstances to extend Sir M MacLehose's tenure of office for a further period, until April 1980.

Dr Owen has now put this proposal to Sir M MacLehose who has agreed to stay on. The Governor shares Dr Owen's view that there would be advantage in announcing the extension before his (Sir M MacLehose's) visit to China, which begins on 24 March.

Dr Owen has said that he is confident, on the basis of his conversation with the Prime Minister, that Mr Callaghan will be content with these arrangements. Given the time factor, and the need to avoid any leak, I am therefore writing to the Palace today on behalf of Dr Owen, to seek The Queen's formal approval.

BG Cartledge Esq 10 Downing Street

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(G G H Walden)

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL