CONFIDENTIAL
expatriate Administrative Secretary who acts as a
receiving point for representations from the public
and who makes any necessary enquiries from the relevant
Government departments.
(b) The "Ward" system of the Urban Council
Under this system members of the Urban Council set
aside specified periods during which they receive
complaints from members of the public.
(c) The City District Officer Scheme
Under this scheme, which was introduced at the
beginning of 1968, District Officers have been
appointed for the various urban areas of the Colony,
These officers make themselves accessible to those living
within their districts with the object of providing a
two-way channel of communication between the people
and the Government.
4. Before he left London Sir Murray MacLehose thought that the
proposal to appoint an Ombudsman had proved a useful pace-setter
in that it had stimulated the creation and development of
facilities such as those mentioned above for the ventilation
of grievances. He asked however that no decision be taken
in this matter until he had had an opportunity personally
to review on the ground in Hong Kong the whole question of
closing the gap between people and Government.
5. It is accordingly recommended that the Secretary of State
seek the Governor's advice on the form of the reply he should
give to any questions about the Ombudsman. It is most unlikely
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CONFIDENTIAL
/that