TNAG-1007-FCO40-1257-Appointment-of-the-new-Governor-to-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-q-1981 — Page 44

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RECEIVED IN REGSTRY NO. 51 18 MAR 1931

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

edo

NE

EXHALL COPY

GPS 150

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 171000Z MAR 81

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 294 OF 17 MARCH

INFO HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON

FROM GOVERNOR FOR CLIFT.

1. AT AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ON RETURN HERE I WAS ASKED WHETHER

IN LONDON EXTENSION OF MY APPOINTMENT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED. THIS IS A ROUTINE LAST QUESTION AT PRESS CONFERENCES AND ALWAYS GETS A LAUGHT. I GAVE THE ROUTINE ANSWER I E 'NO, AS YOU KNOW MY TERM EXPIRES NEXT APRIL'. BUT UNDER SOME BADGERING I ADDED

I WOULD BE SORRY, BUT IT WAS TIME TO GO. FOR SOME INEXPLICABLE REASON (PERHAPS SUNDAY MORNING WITH LITTLE CONTENT TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE) THIS ROUTINE REPLY GIVEN MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR

HIT THE HEADLINES HERE, AND I SEE HAS BEEN PICKED UP IN THE UK

PRESS.

2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD BE BRIEFED TO BE READY TO ANSWER

QUESTIONS HERE ABOUT WHO MY SUCCESSOR WILL BE, WHETHER PEOPLE IN HONG

KONG WILL BE CONSULTED, AND WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE. 3. IT WOULD BE TACTFUL IF HE FOUND TIME TO DISCUSS WITH AT LEAST

THE SENIOR MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THE REQUIREMENTS OF A

SUCCESSOR AS HE SEES IT.

MACLEHOSE

LIMITED

AD/HRED (1)

SIRE

YOUDE

MR DONALD

CONFIDENTAL

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