TNAG-0280-FCO40-316-Visit-of-Parliamentary-under-Secretary-of-Foreign-and-Common-1970 — Page 26

CONFIDENTIAL

Note No. 3

Visit of Parliamentary Under-Secretary Mr. Royle, to Hong Kong, October, 1970

Ombudsman for Hong Kong

Points to be made

Hong Kong cannot escape from its status as a Colony.

Surely, therefore, it is wrong not to consider most carefully

any device likely to help persuade the Americans and the

Europeans in particular that the people of Hong Kong are not

"suffering" under a new form of old fashioned imperialism,

however ill-informed that view may be.

5(b) `and

2.

· and 6.)

(Baras. 2 and

The fact that there already are other arrangements

(UMELCO, the "Ward" system of the Urban Council, the City

District Officer scheme, and petitions to the Governor, the

Secretary of State or The Queen) enabling members of the public

to make known and seek redress for their grievances is no

reason for rejecting the application of the Ombudsman concept

to Hong Kong. (perf.,.3.) 3.

3.

The appointment of an Ombudsman is likely to make much

more of an impact both in and out of the Colony than can

ever be expected from any of the existing machinery.

(paras.45(b) and 6.) -).

4. All aspects of the proposal will, of course, have to be

most carefully considered. (Paras: 5(c) and (f))).

Hong Kong Department

30 September,1970

CONFIDENTIAL