CONFIDENTIAL
of the Urban Council have proved themselves, and thirdly
the UMELCO Office has been set up and has taken on functions
in essence combining those of MPs' letters and questions
with those of a Parliamentary Commissioner. My feeling is
that these new channels should be encouraged and extended
before we consider introducing any further machinery for
review of complaints. But I think that the proposal for
an Ombudsman should be kept alive. There might eventually
prove to be a place for such an office, and meanwhile the
proposal has acted as a great stimulus to UMELCO, the
City
Urban Council and the Urban District Officers to perform
the functions for which an Ombudsman was originally
suggested. I am sure that it is to everybody's advantage
to keep up this pressure.
Government's image with the people
14.
The consensus of advice I have received is that
while the lines of communication between the people and
the government have markedly improved, as described in part
in the previous paragraph, the reverse lines between
government and people remain inadequate and much criticised.
This is a very difficult thing for any government to get
right, and the Hong Kong Government is not unique in having
failed to do so. It is also embarrassed by a singularly
fragmented and badly staffed press. This is nevertheless
a field I will look at as a matter of priority. I suspect
that what is wanted is a government spokesman of sufficient
calibre to deal with the press himself and encourage more
/officials
7. CONFIDENTIAL