I refer to your agency story headlined 'Mellor backs Major' (South China Morning Post, October 2), which said ex-Tory minister David Mellor had to quit the British cabinet in 1992 over his affair with an actress.

Mr Mellor did not resign despite press disclosures about his fling with the actress, Antonia de Sancha.

He survived weeks of media onslaught and would have remained national heritage minister had it not been for a further revelation that he had accepted a free holiday from Mona Bauwens, the daughter of a Palestinian Liberation Organisation official, and had not reported it as required by parliamentary ethics rules governing ministers.