TNAG-0841-FCO40-1050-Visit-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-Chi-1979 — Page 229

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P.J. Williamson.

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BY PAUL MAJENDIE

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HKCR 026/3.

RECEIVED IN REGIST, N

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2 0 MAR 1979

K OF CER

HONG KONG MARCH 20, REUTER - HONG KONG GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY NACLEHOSE HAS HAD HIS TERM OF OFFICE EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL: 1980, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE SIR MURRAY LEAVES ON A HISTORIC VISIT TO CHINA--THE FIRST OFFICIAL INVITATION EVER EXTENDED BY COMMUNIST CHINA TO A GOVERNOR OF THIS BRITISH COLONY. SIR MURRAY, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR HONG KONG GOVERNORS OF RECENT YEARS: WAS DUE TO LEAVE IN AUGUST AFTER SERVING ALMOST EIGHT YEARS IN THE POST.

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THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HISEXTENDED STAY IS CERTAIN TO BE WARMLY APPLAUDED IN HONG KONG, WHERE HE HAS PRESIDED OVER A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF THE COLONY'S SOCIAL SERVICES.

SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS HAVE STEADILY IMPROVED THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE OF OFFICE WITH HONG KONG PLAYING A ROLE IN FORGING THAT SOLID TMRELATIONSHIP.

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