IMMEDIATE
GR 180
RECEIVED IN CONFIDENTIAL
REGISTRY No. FO
20 FEB 1975
CYPHER/CAT A
NXK1/6
FM HONG KONG 2998CBZ
CONFIDENTIAL
:
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 16540F 20 FEBRUARY INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG COVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON (FCO PLEASE PASS).
YOUR TELEGRAM 133:
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS.
SUGGEST FOLLOWING REPLIES:
[A
C
REF.
(A) THE METHOD OF NOMINATION OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ENABLES THE COUNCIL TO WORK EFFECTIVELY FOR
•
THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG. MEMBERS ARE NOMINATED BECAUSE THEY POSSESS PROVED ABILITY EXPERIENCE AND STANDING IN A VARIETY OF WALKS OF LIFE. THE GOVERNOR IS WELL AWARE OF THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT MEMBERS ARE DRAWN FROM AS WIDE A BACKGROUND AS POSSIBLE SUBJECT ONLY TO THE OVERRIDING REQUIRMENT THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO
DISCHARGE THE VERY ONEROUS DUTIES INVOLVED.
(B) THE SUCCESS OF THE UMELCO OFFICE IN DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS IS REFLECTED IN THE GROWTH OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IT HAS DEALT WITH ANNUALLY: 1200 IN 1972, 1700 IN 1973, 2800 IN 1974. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER WELL DEVELOPED CHANNELS FOR DEALING WITH PUBLIC GRIEVANCES: DISTRICT OFFICES, CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, THE URBAN COUNCIL WARD SYSTEM, AND APPEALS TO THE GOVERNOR.
2. AS REGARDS (A), YOU WILL RECALL THAT DR CHUNG RAISED THIS IN LEGCO ON 30TH OCTOBER 1974. MY LETTER TO STUART OF 10TH DECEMBER 1974 GIVES THE FULL PICTURE.
/3. AS REGARDS (B)
CONFIDENTIAL