> a doctor telling you you apparently have a broken leg <
Which is somewhat different than a doctor telling you plainly that you have a broken leg. The first is an educated guess, which could be wrong. The second is a fact confirmed by hard evidence.
No, you misapply. Apparent is an observation in both cases. A broken leg can be confirmed by hard evidence, but that spokesman was saying it was hard evidence based on the extent of their knowledge but acknowledging their knowledge may not be complete. I happen to think their knowledge is extensive.