TNAG-0214-FCO40-250-Proposals-for-appointment-of-a-ombudsman-in-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 13

6.

Ombudsman

The Covernor said that the strengthened

UMELCO Office had got off to a good start (he in

fact arranged for me to be shown in detail some

of the work in hand at a meeting I had with the

Unofficial Members on 12 October). But the

strengthened UMELCO Office had only been working

for two months, was making its mark, and he was anxious lost 100 duvelopment might be prejudiced by starting a new experiment at this stage.

his view, the Hong Kong experiment was likely to

result in a better and more flexible and effective

solution than an Ombudsman. I said however

In

that I did not want reconsideration to stand over

without a time-limit.

It was agreed that the

question would be looked at again in nine months

time. I suggested that one possibility which might be considered in the light of experience would

be to build on to the UMELCO Office the functions

envisaged for the Ombudsman in the draft Bill, and give the Secretary of the Office an appropriately

CONFIDENTIAL

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