City District Officer Scheme
4. Less than a year ago the Government of Hong Kong introduced the City District Officer Scheme, a brief description of which was
given in reply to a Question by the honourable Member for Richmond
on the 12 of March 1968.
5.
The City District Officer Scheme is now operating in nine districts
and will be extended to a tenth district next month. The scheme is
proving a useful avenue for the ventilation of grievances and is well
used.
6. Although City District Officers do not have the statutory powers
that an Ombudsman would have, they do not suffer from the statutory
limitations and more formal procedures which would apply to an Ombudsman.
Elected Representation on the Central Councils of Government.
7. It has already been stated in the House on several occasions that
because of Hong Kong's special position, constitutional development
towards self-Government is not possible. There is nothing to add to
that statement.
8. Even the introduction of a small number of elected representatives
into Government is not regarded as a possible development in the
circumstances of Hong Kong. The possibility of nominating certain
members of the Legislative Council from among the elected members of
local government bodies has been considered, but the introduction of
an elected element by whatever means could give rise to serious
difficulties and requires very careful examination.
Attitude of the general public in Hong Kong towards constitutional
development.
9. The limitations of political development are generally understood
in Hong Kong and there is little demand for a change.
Report of