TNAG-0293-FCO40-329-Guidelines-for-the-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Sir-Murray-MacLeho-1971 — Page 23

CONFIDENTIAL

of the Urban Council have proved themselves, and thirdly

the UMELCO Office has been set up and has taken on functions

in essence combining those of MPs' letters and questions

with those of a Parliamentary Commissioner. My feeling is

that these new channels should be encouraged and extended

before we consider introducing any further machinery for

review of complaints. But I think that the proposal for

an Ombudsman should be kept alive. There might eventually

prove to be a place for such an office, and meanwhile the

proposal has acted as a great stimulus to UMELCO, the

City

Urban Council and the Urban District Officers to perform

the functions for which an Ombudsman was originally

suggested. I am sure that it is to everybody's advantage

to keep up this pressure.

Government's image with the people

14.

The consensus of advice I have received is that

while the lines of communication between the people and

the government have markedly improved, as described in part

in the previous paragraph, the reverse lines between

government and people remain inadequate and much criticised.

This is a very difficult thing for any government to get

right, and the Hong Kong Government is not unique in having

failed to do so. It is also embarrassed by a singularly

fragmented and badly staffed press. This is nevertheless

a field I will look at as a matter of priority. I suspect

that what is wanted is a government spokesman of sufficient

calibre to deal with the press himself and encourage more

/officials

7. CONFIDENTIAL