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Copy to:
Mr. Wilford
Mr. Godden
Reference........HKK 1/8 (2)
®
The Minister will wish to be aware of the attached
correspondence which relates to discussions which Sir David Trench had with Sir Edmund Compton, Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in the United Kingdom on 10 December.
In a statement which he made immediately after his arrival back in the Colony, the Governor was reported by certain Hong Kong newspapers as having quoted views expressed to him by the Parliamentary Commissioner in the course of the discussions referred to above, on the subject of the appointment of an Ombudsman in Hong Kong.
These press reports caused the Hong Kong branch of "Justice" to address a letter (copy attached) to the Parliamentary Commissioner. Following the receipt of this letter, the Secretary to the Parliamentary Commissioner informed the Department that Sir Edmund was somewhat surprised by the letter since it had been agreed between himself and the Governor at the time of the discussions that although the Governor might make public the fact that those discussions had taken place, he would not disclose the views expressed by the Parliamentary Commissioner in the course of them. It was agreed between the Department and the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner that the attached reply should be sent by the latter to Justice.
It appears that the present situation has almost certainly resulted from a misunderstanding.
In a discussion I had with the Governor immediately after his talk with the Ombudsman, Sir David Trench mentioned to me the use he proposed to make of the Parliamentary Commissioner's views in statements he
would be making on return to Hong Kong. I asked him whether Sir Edmund had agreed to his views being quoted and was informed that this had been discussed and agreed The Secretary to the Parliamentary Commissioner has been informed of this conversation.
The Parliamentary Commissioner has not asked the
Department to take any further action in the matter but the Minister should be aware of the position in view of the continuing interest which has been shown by Justice regarding the appointment of an Ombudsman in Hong Kong.
14 January, 1970.
Carter
(W. S. Carter)
Hong Kong Department