97499 St.S.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
Top Secret. Secret.
Confidential. Restricted. Unclassified.
DRAFT
To:-
M. D. Gass, Esq.,
Colonial Secretary,
Hong Kong.
Type 1 +
From
116
Telephone No. & Ext.
CMG,
Department
I am replying to your letter
CR L/M 347/68 of 28 September to
Heath Mason about what Bernacchi
claims Lord Shepherd told him in
London.
Bernacchi saw the Minister of
16 August State/ £
f
about-
for/hour. The purpose of
the call was primarily a courtesy
one, though, inevitably, some aspects
of the Hong Kong scene were touched
upon. The Private Secretary was called
away shortly after Bernacchi called
and, therefore, there is no record of
the interview.
Lord Shepherd has seen the newspaper
cuttings of 5 and 6 September.
His
clear recollection is that he told
Bernacchi,in conversation, that he once held the strong view that an Ombudsman
would have an important role to play
in Hong Kong; but although he could
still see the need for an Ombudsman
he saw considerable difficulties about such an appointment at this stage.
/Не