Appointment of the Ombudsman
6.
People in Hong Kong have a variety of channels of complaint open to them and they make good use of these. The office of the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO) performs similar functions to those of an Ombudsman but without some of the statutory restrictions under which that system normally operates.
The System of Appointment of Advisory Boards
7.
The Hong Kong Government keeps its system of appointments continually under review. The Governor sees the Advisory Boards as a particularly effective means of obtaining wider public participation in the Government.
A Reduced Level of the Garrison
8.
The Hong Kong Garrison has just been reduced under the new Defence Costs Agreement between HMG and Hong Kong concluded at the end
The present level is considered to be appropriate for
of last year. fulfilling its tasks.