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15.6.70
Copy to:
Mr. Wilford
Mr. Godden
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 Govemor 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. whether Sir Edmund had agreed to his views being quoteā and was informed that this had been discussed and agrecã The Secretary to the Parliamentary Commissioner has
been informed of this conversation.
I asked him
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, 1938
(W. S. Carter)