PERSONAL AND CONF: DESTIAL
I know that some of the unofficial members of
both the Executive and Legislative Councilo doubt
whether such a post is necessary and that the
constitutional polition of the Colony makes it
imposible to follow the model of responsibility
to Parliament that is appropriate here. Lut jut
as Hong Kong is so much 'sui generis', so there is
no need cxactly to reproduce the machinery that
has been evolved elsewhere. It strikes ne, never-
theless, that the "Ombudsman' concept is particularly
cuitable for the circumstances of Hong Kong. The
new Office would of course have to be quite seperate
from the normal machinery of covernment and I am
sure the "Commisioner' would have to report to
you personally. The arliamentary Commissioner
here has certain restrictions on his activities and
it will be necessary to consider what restrictions
should be placed on the "Ombudsman' in Hong Kong.
I am arranging therefore for the Parliamentary
Commissioner to be consulted about these proposals
and our considered viewc in the light of this
consultation will be cert to you as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, I should be er teful if you would consider
the best ney of reviving this issue with your
unofficial edvicers.
PLK. ONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
/If we