The city Ethics Commission has advised Mayor Peter Carlisle to reimburse the city $3,300 to cover the cost of his wife’s trip to China in June, when she accompanied him as part of a Honolulu delegation traveling to strengthen cultural and economic ties.

In an advisory opinion released Thursday, the commission said Judy Carlisle’s presence on the trip did not serve a public purpose, and therefore her travel should not have been paid for by city funds — even funds that were donated as a gift to the city by Chinese government agencies and earmarked for her travel.

"Once a gift is accepted by the Council, it becomes a public resource that may only be expended for legitimate government purposes," Ethics Commission Executive Director Chuck Totto said in a news release.

Carlisle has until Feb. 23 to respond or take corrective action. If he does not repay the money, he could be found in violation of the law that prohibits use of city resources for noncity purposes.

Carlisle said he "respectfully disagrees" with the opinion and plans to review it before responding.

"The trips were paid for by the Taiwanese government and the Chinese government, not by the City and County of Honolulu," Carlisle said at a news conference in his office. "Now I am being asked to return money to the City and County of Honolulu when none was taken for this purpose."

Carlisle said the opinion might be legally correct, but he feels it does not reflect the intent or spirit of the law.

"Technically, it’s correct under the law, but it’s produced a very bizarre result," he said. "They (foreign government) asked for her to be there, and they paid for her to be there and she went there.

"Now they’re asking for money to go back to the City and County of Honolulu," he added, referring to the Ethics Commission opinion. "That makes no level of sense to me whatsoever."

The trips were paid for by a gift of $16,500 from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu, the Chengdu and Qin­huang­dao municipal people’s governments and the Shen­zhen Delicate Furniture Co. for the purpose of strengthening a sister city relationship and discussion of economic development opportunities.

The five-person delegation also included Councilman Stanley Chang and two staff members from the city Office of Economic Development.

Carlisle said he asked for an opinion from the Ethics Commission about a month before the trip. Totto said at that time the question was left open as to whether the funds could be used for Judy Carlisle’s attendance. Although spouses of previous mayors have traveled on official trips, none had ever sought an advisory opinion.

Meanwhile, the donation was submitted to the City Council and approved at its May 11 meeting. The Ethics Commission’s formal review process was only completed recently.

Carlisle noted that in the international protocol for some Asian countries, a spouse is considered to be an extension of the mayor and part of the leadership team.

"Embracing Honolulu’s importance in Asia-Pacific culture and commerce is part of the business of the City and County of Honolulu," Carlisle said. "Diplomacy and protocol are similarly significant, especially when we are invited guests in their countries, and I feel their cultural expectations can and should be honored."