TNAG-0106-FCO40-142-Proposals-to-appoint-an-Ombudsman-1969 — Page 120

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MILK1/19/02/

Mr. Carter

Mr. Godden

Parliamentary Office

The attached Parliamentary Question by Mr. Rankin is for

oral reply on 21 July. Although we are second on the list for

Questions on that day I understand that we are almost certain

to be reached. Mr. Rankin and Mr. Thornton put down questions

on this subject in December 1968 and a copy of the relevant

Hansard extract is attached.

2. This was one of the matters which Lord Shepherd discussed

with the Governor during his recent visit to Hong Kong and as a

result of those discussions it was agreed that no conclusion

should be reached on the question of the appointment of an

ombudsman until the possibility had been fully explored of

developing machinery which already existed for enabling the

people of Hong Kong to make known their views and grievances

to the authorities.

Lord Shepherd was questioned in the House

of Lords on the subject of an ombudsman in the course of replying

to a Question by Lord Brockway on 23 June, 1969. The substantive

Question was a general one and was occasioned by the Minister's

visit to the Colony (see attached Hansard extract).

3. A draft reply to the Question is attached together with

Notes for Supplementaries.

Background

4. The Hong Kong Government have for several years been

considering the possibility of establishing an ombudsman or

/ similar

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