TNAG-0214-FCO40-250-Proposals-for-appointment-of-a-ombudsman-in-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 159

COUNCIL

PROF. J. N. O ANDERSON OBE. BRYAN ANNS.

JOHN JAARNOLD, Q C.

* OVNENSON. RODERIC BOWEN, OC. MICHAEL BRYCESON

MARK CARLISLE. M P PETER CARTER-RUCK.

EDWARD GARDNER, Q.C.

SYLVESTER GATES, CB.E

JOHN GAUNTLETT.

PROF A. L. GOODMART, K.B E. Q.C'

PROF C. J. HAMSON.

LEWIS HAWSER, O.C.

GEOFFREY HOWE, QC.

MUIR HUNTER, Q.C.

TOM KELLOCK, Q.C.

PHILIP KIMBER.

PROF. LORO LLOYD

HERBERT LLOYD.

AINSLIE NAIRN,

WILLIAM L. ROOTS, Q.C.

THE HON. SAM. SILKIN, Q C., M.P

JONATHAN STONE.

JOHN WALKER.

WILLIAM WELLS. Q.C., M.P

WHEATCROFT, J.P.

PROF. G. S. A

BEN WHITAKER, M.P.

BASIL WIGODER, Q.C

W. T. WILLIAMS, Q.C., M.P

J. E. HALL WILLIAMS

JUSTICE

INTERNATIONAL

(BRITISH SECTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS.)

Mr. Gaminions

Dear Lord Shepherd,

CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL

THE RT, HON. LORD SHAWCROSS, Q.C

VICE-CHAIRMAN:

THE RT. HON. LORD TANGLEY, K.BE

CHAIRMAN OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SIR JOHN FOSTER, K.B.E., Q.C., M.P

VICE-CHAIRMAN :

GEOFFREY GARRETT.

HONORARY TREASURER NIALL MACDERMOT, Q.C., M.P

DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH

FRANCIS JACOBS

SECRETARY :

TOM SARGANT, O.B E., J.P

12. CRANE COURT.

FLEET STREET,

LONDON, E. C. 4

Holl

Telephone: 01-353 9428 Cables: JUSTJURIST LONDON.

ALL COMMUNICATIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY

5th January, 1970

Thank you for your letter of 30th December regarding the possibility of an appointment of an Ombudsman in Hong Kong.

I think that we all appreciate that objections can and will be raised to this office whenever it is proposed. I am not quite clear in my mind as to whether the objections in Hong Kong arise solely from problems of security and political subversion or are also of an administrative nature but it can be strongly argued that it is precisely in those places where objections are raised that the institution is most needed and that countries and territories which do not enjoy popular democratic government can benefit most from it.

I know that our branch in Hong Kong feels very strongly that the appointment of a paid official does not meet the basic requirement of an independent and judicial scrutiny of executive action.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Shepherd, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London, S.W.1.

Yours sincerely,

Tom Sargant

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