TNAG-1000-FCO40-1231-Appointment-of-the-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-Sir-Edward-Youde-1981 — Page 56

HKA 431/393/16

CONFIDENTIAL AND STRICTLY PERSONAL

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

15*2

Sir E Youde

PS/PUS

APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR : HONG KONG

PROBLEM

1

сп

Tels to the JPM

teen afieved,

脈川

Sis has

1. To arrange for soundings with senior Unofficials in Hong

Kong on the appointment of Sir E Youde.

RECOMMENDATION

2.

I recommend that the Secretary of State send a message to

Sir S Y Chung via the Governor on the lines of the attached draft

telegrams.

BACKGROUND

A -3.

Sir Murray MacLehose's letter of 30 November to the PUS drew

attention to the need for some form of consultation with the Senior

Unofficial, Sir S Y Chung. He suggested that the Secretary of State

might send a message to Sir S Y Chung telling him about the

decision and asking for reassurance that there was no local

objection.

B 4.

C

The PUS replied in FCO Telegram No 915 asking for the Governor's

comments on a message to Sir S Y Chung. This omitted any specific

request for comment on the proposal because of the need to maintain

the Secretary of State's prerogative on gubernatorial appointments.

5. Sir M MacLehose's reply (Hong Kong Telegram No 1982 of

4 December) agrees with the draft text but recommends that we should

be prepared to allow for some form of consultation in order to

avoid subsequent carping by Unofficials in Hong Kong. He asks

for discretion, if Sir S Y Chung does not simply agree to the

Also at MAPE/Yadele

CONFIDENTIAL AND STRICTLY PERSONAL

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

/proposal

3