is important or controversial, or about which
representations are received from public bodies or from members of the public. The Police Group, which consists of
a panel of eight Unofficial members and Justices of the
Peace, plus the Attorney General, monitors the handling of
complaints against the police. Similarly the ICAC
Complaints Committee, also comprising seven Unofficial
members and the Attorney General, monitors the handling of
complaints against the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Various OMELCO panels meet regularly with senior government officials. Issues and policies of importance are discussed at these meetings and may be
debated and publicly questioned at meetings of the Legislative Council.
9. The only bodies participating in the Government of Hong
Kong that consist entirely of members of the public are the
Urban Council (URBCO) and the Regional Council (REGCO).
Half of the URBCO's 30 members are elected; the remainder
are appointed by the Governor from among prominent members
of the community. The most recent elections were held in
March 1989. URBCO's responsibilities are limited to the
urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon
(where, altogether, about three-quarters of the population
live). Its main duties are public hygiene, and the control
of recreational and cultural facilities. On 1 April 1986 a
new REGCO was established with the same powers and functions
in the New Territories as URBCO has in the urban area: 12 of REGCO's 36 members are directly elected; 12 are appointed by the Governor; 9 are indirectly elected by the District Boards; and 3 are ex-officio representatives of the indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories.
10. District Boards (and associated District Management
Committees) were established in 1982. There are now 19
Boards. The Boards, part elected and part appointed, advise the Government on matters affecting the well-being of the people at a district level Elections to the Boards were
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