TNAG-2699-FCO40-3905-Hong-Kong-Civil-Service-appointments-and-promotions-1993 — Page 32

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5. BEARING ALL THIS IN MIND, WE NOW WISH TO SEEK THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S APPROVAL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF DONALD MCFARLANCE WATSON AS THE NEXT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE WITH EFFECT FROM APPROXIMATELY 1 OCTOBER 1993.

6.

IF APPROVED, WE AIM TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON 9 FEBRUARY. THIS WOULD NOT ONLY PRE-EMPT FURTHER SPECULATION IN CUSTOMS AND EXCISE BUT ENABLE US TO ANNOUNCE A LOCAL REPLACEMENT FOR A RETIRING EXPATRIATE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THUS LARGELY NEUTRALISING ANY ADVERSE PUBLIC RELATIONS.

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