GR 250 DEDIP
CONFIDENTIAL
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
DESKBY 1509882
FM HONG KONG 1508152 DEC 81
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1126 OF 15 DECEMBER
PERSONAL FROM GOVERNOR
YOUR TELNO 947: NEW GOVERNOR
TO.
OPY
H+|AKED
Hala
MKA 431/393/10
་
1. I GAVE YOUR LETTER TO S Y CHUNG THIS MORNING BEFORE EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL. I REMINDED HIM THIS WAS YOUR APPOINTMENT UNDER THE LETTERS
PATENT AND THAT NO RIGHT OR CUSTOM OF CONSULTATION EXISTED AND THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN THIS POSITION: AND THAT THIS WAS
THE FIRST TIME THAT A SECRETARY OF STATE HAD WRITTEN SUCH A LETTER
TO THE SENIOR MEMBER. NEVERTHELESS IT GAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECORD OBJECTION IF HE FELT SUFFICIENTLY STRONGLY BEFORE YOU TOOK THE
ЯNAL STEP OF A SUBMISSION TO THE QUEEN.
2. AFTER SOME FUSSING AROUND HE ASKED IF HE MIGHT DISCUSS WITH HIS
SENIOR COLLEAGUES.
3. I THEREFORE ASKED UNOFFICIALS TO STAY BEHIND AFTER EXCO.
S Y READ OUT YOUR LETTER. BEFORE DOING SO, HE MADE THE SAME POINTS
I MADE TO HIM CONCLUDING THAT THIS WAS IN NO SENSE CONSULTATION BUT WAS A COURTESY TO INFORM MEMBERS AND TO ENABLE THEM TO ASK ME ABOUT ANY DOUBTS THEY HAD, AND TO STATE OBJECTION IF THEY
FELT NECESSARY, THOUGH THEY HAD NO VETO.
4. AFTER THEY HAD DIGESTED THIS A CHINESE MEMBER SAID THEY ALL NEW YOUDE WELL AND HE HAD ALWAYS SEEMED FIRST RATE AND IF HE WAS YOUR CHOICE NOTHING REMAINED BUT TO THANK YOU FOR THE COURTESY OF INFORMING THEM. THIS MET WITH GENERAL ASSENT.
5. I MADE THE POINT ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY AS IN YOUR SECOND
SENTENCE.
MIFT IS THE TEXT OF SY'S REPLY.
MACLEHOSE
LIMITED
HD/HK & GD /PS/LPS
HD/POD
PS/PUS
HD/NEWS D
SIR E YOUDE
SIR A ACLAND MR RUSSELL MR DONALD
PS
CONFIDENTIAL
Also at HKPF/Youde /C2.
10
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