TNAG-1000-FCO40-1231-Appointment-of-the-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-Sir-Edward-Youde-1981 — Page 60

香港總督府

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

itz der Wickest,

MKA 431/393/16

15 DEC1231

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

HONG KONG

30th November 1981

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SWE Youde

PSIPUS PS

APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR : HONG KONG

It is good news that Teddy Youde is back part time in the office and generally getting on as well as could be expected.

2.

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Humphrey Atkins arrives here for a short visit on January 8. Obviously a decision about the succession must be announced before then. Time is short, and apart from the basic decision to appoint Teddy or someone else, there are the various hoops such as No.10 and the Palace to get through. I am concerned that in the scramble any semblance of consultation with the Senior Member of Executive Council here may be overlooked.

3.

When the Secretary of State was here at the end of March, and the Senior Member of the Executive Council, Sir S Y Chung, called on him, I thought he had specifically cleared with him the proposal to appoint Teddy. I now discover that no names were mentioned, and that the discussion was in very general terms about the qualities required in a new Governor.

4.

Of course the decision is the Secretary of State's and there should be no compromise on this. But at the same time it would be unfortunate if Unofficials were able to say that there had been no consultation at all particularly since someone may remember a few free- wheeling remarks made at the S of S's press conference here (quote attached). The latter need not be taken

Sir Michael Palliser GCMG Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London

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Also at HEPF / Yandel€.

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