TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 73

CONFIDENTIAL

expatriate Administrative Secretary who acts as a

receiving point for representations from the public

and who makes any necessary enquiries from the relevant

Government departments.

(b) The "Ward" system of the Urban Council

Under this system members of the Urban Council set

aside specified periods during which they receive

complaints from members of the public.

(c) The City District Officer Scheme

Under this scheme, which was introduced at the

beginning of 1968, District Officers have been

appointed for the various urban areas of the Colony,

These officers make themselves accessible to those living

within their districts with the object of providing a

two-way channel of communication between the people

and the Government.

4. Before he left London Sir Murray MacLehose thought that the

proposal to appoint an Ombudsman had proved a useful pace-setter

in that it had stimulated the creation and development of

facilities such as those mentioned above for the ventilation

of grievances. He asked however that no decision be taken

in this matter until he had had an opportunity personally

to review on the ground in Hong Kong the whole question of

closing the gap between people and Government.

5. It is accordingly recommended that the Secretary of State

seek the Governor's advice on the form of the reply he should

give to any questions about the Ombudsman. It is most unlikely

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/that