Prom The Minister of State
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
30 December, 1969.
7
The
I am sorry that my absence abroad and the volume of work awaiting me on my return have prevented me from sending you an earlier reply to your letter of 20 October about the feasibility of appointing an Ombudsman in Hong Kong. report enclosed with your letter had, in fact, been previously brought to my notice by the Governor and I have studied it with interest. I have also received your letter of 14 November on the same subject.
During my visit to the Colony in June I had
very thorough discussions on this matter with the Governor and his advisers. I was told that there were very real difficulties about importing the Ombudsman concept into Hong Kong and doubts were expressed about the extent to which such an appointment would be effective. It was the general view of those with whom I talked and a view which I shared - that steps should first be taken to strengthen the machinery which already exists for enabling the people of Hong Kong to make known their views and grievances to the authorities. To this end it was decided to appoint (in addition to the City District Officers, whose appointments were clearly welcome by the Chinese community generally) a person of some standing as full-time Secretary to the Office of the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils: and I am informed that applications for this appointment are now being considered. This officer will act
as a receiving point for representations from the public and will make any necessary enquiries from the relevant departments` of Government.
T. Sargant Esq., OBE., JP.
Secretary,
British Section of the International
Commission of Jurists.
12 Crane Court,
Fleet St. E.C.4.
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