CONFIDENTIAL
14. THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXCO AND LEGCO TOGETHER FORM AN OFFICE KNOWN AS UMELCO WHICH MONITORS GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY, AND PROVIDES AN EVENUE FOR THE REDPRESS OF GRIEVANCES. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO SCRUTINIZE LEGISLATION BEFORE IT REACHES LEGCO. THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS ARE BEING REVIEWED. CURRENT THINKING IS THAT THERE MAY BE A CASE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TE *COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION! ALONG THE LINE OF THE UK PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER. THE SUBJECT WILL BE DEALT WITH IN GREATER DETAIL IN SUBSEQUENT TELEGRAMS ON TOPICAL ISSUES.
CONSUTATIVE MACHINERY
15. IN ADDITION TO THE GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVIDED DISTRICT BOARDS. THERE EXISTS A NETWORK OF SOME 368 ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND STATUTORY BOARDS, WHOSE MEMBERS INCLUDE BOTH OFFICIALS AND UNOFFICIALS AND WHICH, TAKEN TOGETHER, PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE SIEVE THROUGH WHICH CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT POLICY AND THE IP IMPLICATIONS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES FROM TRANSPORT TO CHINESE CEMETERIES ARE DISCUSSED PRIOR TO ADOPTION.
16. MAJOR ISSUES, SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, ARE GENERALLY SET OUT FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION IN GREEN PAPER FORM, WITH FINAL PROPOSALS PUBLISHED IN A WHITE PAPER BEFORE SUBMISSION TO LEGCO.
THE PUBLIC SERVICE
17. THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF 170,000 IS HEADED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, HIS SECRETARIAT, COMPRISING TWO RESOURCE AND ELEVEN POLICY BRANCHES, SUPERVISES AND CO-ORDINATES FIFTY-NINE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS. THE PUBLIC SERVICE AS DEFINED IN HONG KONG INCLUDES THE POLICE, MEDICAL SERVICES AND HOSPITALS AND MUNICIPAL SERVICE STAFF.
FURTHER CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
13. FOLLOWING THE RECENT CHANGES TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IT IS PROPOSED TO REVIEW THE SYSTEM IN 1987, IN TIME FOR ANY CHANGES TO BE INTRODUCED BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTIONS IN 1988. SEE MY SEPARATE TELEGRAM ON THIS SUBJECT.
CONFIDENTIAL
| POLITICAL