3
3. Institutional
Reform
!
Recommendation 3.
4. An Ombudsman
Reform of the Legislative and Urban Councils. (See Annex 4).
There is less room for the reform on more democratic lines of the Legislative Council than for that of the Urban Council.
The
} main considerations to be borne in mind
are that:
a) The position of the Legislative Council as the predominant institution (even though it continues to be strictly consultative) must be maintained.
b) The Urban Council (or Councils) must enjoy increased powers and increased authority to dispose of revenues if it is to acquire the prestige necessary to secure public interest and to attract persons of greater standing than at present.
It is recommended that a small Committee of three should be set up immediately, to report within 12 months on the reform of:
i) the Legislative Council in minor ways e.g. an increase in nominated members, an extension of the principle of nominating members from particular organisations.
ii) the Urban Council. This might be done by
(a) splitting it into, say five Urban
Councils with extended powers,
or (b)
or (c)
including the power to raise revenue, plus the Heung Yee Kuk (the consul- tative council in the New Territories). A co-ordinating body would probably be needed;
an extension of the system of Boards to deal with particular subjects on a colony-wide basis;
a combination of these methods.
The franchise could be extended.
The possible institution of an Ombudsman. There is some pressure in Hong Kong for the establishment of this post. There are difficulties not least in finding a generally acceptable incumbent and in deciding to whom he should report. Nevertheless given the inevitable continuance of the present structure of Government the Committee feels that some means must be found not only of ensuring redress of grievances but of making it plain that there is
Page
Page
1
4
Recommendation 4.
5. Other Matters
Recommendation 5.
an independent channel whereby grievances can be investigated and redressed. This is particularly necessary as the present use of the Umelco (Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council) office has not been successful,
It is recommended that discussions at the official level should be entered into as soon as possible with a view to the establishment of an ombudsman system.
A number of other important subjects were briefly discussed. They include:
1.
2.
3.
Civil Air Rights
Trade
Housing and the problem of squatters
4. Labour regulations
33 4
5. Education
6.
Taxation
7. Youth
ね
It is recommended that these subjects should
be further considered as soon as possible with
a bias towards movement rather than contentment with the status quo.
6. Future Policy
Recommendation 6.
It is suggested that on the assumption of office by a Conservative Administration it would be an appropriate time to reconsider UK policy and consult with leading members of the Hong Kong administration. There is considerable concern amongst the Administration in the Colony regarding the links with Whitehall, both with the Board of Trade and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a result of the amalgamations in Whitehall which have recently taken place. It is therefore recommended that a private and highly confidential meeting should take place as soon as possible after the formation of the new Government. Those invited to attend might include Sir David Trench, the Governor; Sir John Cowperthwaite, the Financial Secretary; and Mr. Ronald Holmes, the Secretary for Home Affairs, with the appropriate Foreign Office Minister and Officials.
23rd June, 1970
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Pe. have copy of above made for the reargene
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