Hong Kong you may feel that this might have its
drawbacks.
If members of the public were given the option
of complaining either direct or through a member
of the Legislative Council then the chances are
that they would almost invariably choose the direct
approach. Here we must make the general comment
Volume that it is vitally important that the lead of work
descending on the Commissioner in the first months
of his appointment should be kept within limits
which will ensure that his office is not overloaded.
The same point needs to be borne in mind when
considering the range of subjects which are to
fall within the Commissioner's powers of
investigation. Our own view here is that the
initial staff of the office should be small
(totalling not more than perhaps a dozen persons
at most) and that it would be better in the early
stages to err on the side of caution as regards
the scope of the Commissioner's responsibilities:
these can always be extended in the light of
experience and as the office becomes more
established.
It will, of course, be essential to make
it widely known throughout the Colony, before
the Commissioner takes up his appointment, exactly
what complaints he will be authorised to investigate,
the manner in which complaints should be referred
to him, the extent of his powers and the manner
in which his reports will be published. It could
well be that use might be made of the similarity
between the functions of a twentieth century
Ombudsman and the traditional functions of the
Chinese Censor of Imperial times in introducing the
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