WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1979
LAN
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UMELCO PLEDGES TO GIVE CAREFUL
ATTENTION TO PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS ******
THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG ASSURED THE GOVERNOR THAT UMELCO WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE CAREFUL AND CRITICAL ATTENTION TO PUBLIC COMPLAINTS AND REPRESENTATIONS CONCERNING BONA-FIDE GRIEVANCES.
HE WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ON BEHALF OF THE UNOFFICIALS IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF UMELCO AS A CHANNEL FOR THE REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
THAT SIDE OF UMELCO WORK IS EQUALLY VALUED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, AND OFTEN PROVIDES A FURTHER DIMENSION TO THE IR DELIBERATIONS AND MATERIAL FOR QUESTIONS AND DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL, MR. CHEUNG SAID.
OF KEY IMPORTANCE IS THE CONTINUING CLOSE DAILY CO-OPERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT IN FULFILMENT OF THE THREE CHARTER RIGHTS OF THE UMELCO COMPLAINTS SYSTEM, AND THESE HE POINTED OUT ARE THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION, INCLUDING ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT FILES AND CORRESPONDENCE, AND PAPERS ON POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS- THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO SÉNIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS- AND THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE THE ACTIONS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
+IN SUCH RESPECTS WE VENTURE TO THINK THAT THIS INSTITUTION IS UNIQUE, AND PERHAPS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN SIMILAR BUT MORE CIRCUMSCRIBED INSTITUTIONS ELSEWHERE.
+WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXERCISE THESE RIGHTS VIGOROUSLY, AND WHEN PUBLIC GRIEVANCES ARE BROUGHT TO US, WE WILL EXAMINE THEM SYMPATHETICALLY AND IF FOUND JUSTIFIED, PURSUE THE RIGHTS OF THE COMPLAINANTS, HE SAID.
MR. CHEUNG ALSO CONVEYED THE WARM WELCOME OF THE UNOFFICIALS TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THE EXTENSION OF HIS TERM.
+HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HAS CHOSEN WISELY AND WELL. IT IS A CHOICE THAT HAS INSTILLED CONFIDENCE ABROAD AND THAT HAS GIVEN SATISFACTION, I RATHER THINK, TO THE GOVERNMENT IN BEIJING, HE SAID.
HE SUGGESTED FOR CONSIDERATION A REVISED PROCEDURE IN FUTURE FOR THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ANNUAL ADDRESS.
HE SAID THE GOVERNOR HAD FOR SOME TIME PAST, CONFINED HIS ADDRESS TO BROAD ISSUES, LEAVING THE DETAILED EXPOSITIONS TO THE SECRETARIES AND HEADS OF DEPARTMENT.
HE THOUGHT THAT IF THESE OFFICIALS WERE TO SPEAK FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR AND NOT THE UNOFFICIALS, THE UNOFFICIALS WOULD HAVE THE WHOLE BOOK' BEFORE THEM BEFORE THEY SPEAK. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO WIND UP, WITH PERHAPS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND SUCH OTHER OFFICIALS AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE REPLYING. THIS WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE PURPOSEFUL DEBATE, HE SAID.
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