TNAG-0830-FCO40-1038-Extension-of-term-of-office-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governo-1979 — Page 48

HOFO 092/15

ARZZ F CO

FLASH

HKA 431/393/6

RECEIVED

2 0 MAR1979

PA

No il 1 P.P. 2

GR 100

3

SEGRET CONFIDENTIAL.

(5za 1)

LAST

PS RC

0511

3

FM HONG KONG 150341Z MAR 79

TO FLASH FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELNO.375 OF 15 MARCH.

PERSONAL FROM GOVERNOR FOR SECRETARY OF STATE :

YOUR LETTER OF 14 MARCH SENT IN YOUR TELNO.196.

1. I AGREE.

2. 1 WILL NATURALLY TRY TO PUSH THINGS ALONG IN PEKING, BUT CHINESE REACTIONS ARE UNPREDICTABLE, AND I AGREE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL NOT TO OPERATE UNDER THE CONSTRICTED TIME FACTOR OF A FORTHCOMING PERSONALITY CHANGE.

3. I ALSO AGREE THAT THE SOONER AN ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE THE BETTER. IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE BEFORE MY VISIT, I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR AUTHORITY TO TELL THE CHINESE IN CONFIDENCE.

MACLEHOSE

NNNN

сенка 431/2

HKPF/MACLEHOSE/SIR M.