XN000022-1972-11-01 — Page 6

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Wednesday, November 1, 1972

Again in the period 1960 to 1967, a comparatively small number

of 125 questions were asked an average of 16 a year.

Mr. Woo said that since then there had been a "gradual awakening."

The number of questions asked by Unofficials in 1968 was 64 and

it rose to 165 in the 1971-72 session.

Mr. Woo said that there had been a similar increase in activity

as regards speeches on bills and adjournment debates.

"This," he said, "is part of the Unofficials' contribution to

closing what has been called the gap between the Government and the people.

It is one of the steps which the Unofficials have taken to put themselves more

closely in touch with the ordinary people of Hong Kong."

Unofficials were now aided in their task by the emergence of the

UMELCO office, Mr. Woo said.

He described it as "the place where attention can be focused not

only on individual complaints brought to the Office by ordinary citizens but

also on more general complaints and topics of public concern raised in the

press or by public bodies."

Mr. Woo said that although there had been a substantial increase

in the utilisation of the UMELCO Office, many members of the public still

did not use its facilities.

"We are always ready to see members of the public," he said.

/Referring