TNAG-1000-FCO40-1231-Appointment-of-the-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-Sir-Edward-Youde-1981 — Page 58

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FM FCO 03183OZ DECEMBER 81

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 915 OF 3 DECEMBER 1981

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PUS

APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR: HONG KONG

1. YOUR LETTER OF 30 NOVEMBER. I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT THE

MEDICAL ADVISERS HAVE PASSED TEDDY YOUDE FIT AND THE SECRETARY

OF STATE HAS IN CONSEQUENCE DECIDED TO RECOMMEND THAT HE BE

APPOINTED. WE ARE SEEKING THE CONCURRENCE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAKES HIS RECOMMENDATION TO THE

QUEEN.

2. I AGREE THAT A DECISION AND ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE SUCCESSION

SHOULD BE MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE,

BEFORE HUMPHREY ATKINS' VISIT. I ALSO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE

A REASONABLE GESTURE OF CONSULTATION WITH SIR S Y CHUNG, ALTHOUGH

AS YOU SAY, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT TO DEROGATE FROM THE

SECRETARY OF STATE'S AUTHORITY OR THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE IN THESE

MATTERS.

3. WE NEED TO FIT SUCH CONSULTATION IN WITH THE PROCEDURES AT

THIS END AND TO GET IT OVER BEFORE WE OBTAIN THE QUEEN'S INFORMAL

APPROVAL. THIS MEANS THAT WE MUST MOVE FAST ALTHOUGH I

APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT APPEARING TO RUSH PEOPLE IN

HONG KONG.

4.

I THEREFORE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE SECRETARY OF

STATE SEND SIR S Y A MESSAGE THROUGH YOU ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:

BEGINS: WHEN I VISITED HONG KONG IN APRIL WE HAD A WORD ABOUT

THE SUCCESSION TO MURRAY MACLEHOSE AS NEXT GOVERNOR AND ABOUT

THE QUALITIES REQUIRED FOR THE POST. I FOUND IT VERY HELPFUL TO

GET YOUR VIEWS. I THOUGHT I SHOULD NOW LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE

DECIDED TO RECOMMEND TO THE QUEEN THAT SIR EDWARD YOUDE BE

APPOINTED. AS YOU KNOW, HE HAS HAD CLOSE CONNECTIONS WITH HONG

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