TNAG-0830-FCO40-1038-Extension-of-term-of-office-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governo-1979 — Page 46

CONFIDENTIAL AND STAFF: IN CONFIDENCE

4

Mr Murray

ᄇ

Private Secretary

GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG

#ка 431/393/6

RECEIVED P

132145.51 Drapt letters to issue.

2 0 MAR1979

DESK OF CON

INDEX

مه

PA

M

on Take

P.P.3/3

1 Respon

nechrapted. ques

3

1. Sir M MacLehose has now agreed to the Secretary of State's/ proposal that his appointment as Governor of Hong Kong should be extended until April 1980. He has also agreed that there would be advantage in announcing the extension before his visit to China

The

A & B 3 (FCO telegram No 196 and Hong Kong telegram No 375).

Governor is due to leave Hong Kong for China on 24 March. is therefore a need to move quickly.

2. I submit:

(a) a draft letter to No 10 Downing Street;

(b)

(c)

There

a draft letter to The Queen's Private Secretary, seeking Her Majesty's approval of the extension, and

a draft telegram from the Secretary of State to

Sir M MacLehose

The letter to Buckingham Palace might be despatched as soon as

the Prime Minister's concurrence has been obtained.

3.

Appointments to Governorships, or extensions of appointment are normally made on the advice of the Dependent Territories Senior Appointments Board (DTSAB). In the circumstances the agreement of the DTSAB is a formality. The Minister on the Board, Mr Rowlands, is away but I understand that Mr Walden has already spoken to his Private Secretary. I will inform the non-FCO

members of the Board (Sir David Trench, and Mr Kirkness of the

ODM) of what is proposed by telephone.

4. Once the extension has received The Queen's approval it would be normal practice for the announcement to be made in Hong Kong rather than in London. The Governor will wish to inform his

Executive Council beforehand. The Executive Council normally meets on Tuesday mornings, and it would obviously be helpful to the Governor if he could be authorised to inform them of the

extension at their meeting on Tuesday, 20 March and to make the public announcement later that day or on Wednesday, 21 March. this timing may be too tight.

LAST

2X3

15 March 1979

OCHKA 431/2

HKPF/MACLE HOSE/SIR M.

выбирми

R J T McLaren

But

Hong Kong and General Department

/Distribution

CONFIDENTIAL AND STAFF:

IN CONFIDENCE