CONFIDENTIAL
6. RECOMMENDATION. WIDEN FRANCHISE FOR URBCO ELECTIONS, COMMENT. OF ABOUT 250,000 PERSONS QUALIFIED TO VOTE, ONLY 35,000 HAVE REGISTERED AS VOTERS AND 10,000 ACTUALLY VOTED AT THE LAST ELECTION. THERE HAS BEEN NO WIDESPREAD DEMAND IN HONG KONG FOR A WIDENING OF THE FRANCHISE.
7. RECOMMENDATION. APPOINT OMBUDSMAN.
COMMENT. PERSONS IN HONG KONG HAVE A VARIETY OF CHANNELS OF COMPLAINT OPEN TO THEM AND MAKE GOOD USE OF THEM. THE UMELCO OFFICE PERFORMS SIMILAR FUNCTIONS TO THOSE OF AN OMBUDSMAN AND WITHOUT SOME OF THE STATUTORY RESTRICTIONS UNDER WHICH HE OPERATES.
8. RECOMMENDATION. ALL FOUR TRADE UNION PLACES ON L A B SHOULD BE FILLED BY ELECTION AND TRADE UNIONS CONSULTED ABOUT PROPOSED LABOUR LEGISLATION.
COMMENT, TWO EMPLOYEES' REPRESENTATIVES ARE ELECTED BY THOSE UNIONS WHICH ACCEPT THE INVITATION TO VOTE. TWO MORE ARE APPOINTED TO ENSURE WIDE REPRESENTATION. LAB IS CONSULTED ON PROPOSED LABOUR' LEGISLATION.
9. RECOMMENDATION, REVIEW SYSTEM OF APPOINTMENT TO ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES TO GET WIDER REPRESENTATION.
COMMENT. CONTINUALLY UNDER REVIEW, WITH THIS OBJECT IN MIND.
10. RECOMMENDATION, REDUCE LEVEL OF GARRISON.
COMMENT, A MUCH REDUCED GARRISON HAS JUST BEEN AGREED BETWEEN H.M.G. AND H.K.. THE PRESENT LEVEL IS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKIOD
OLA
GIPD
NEWS D
PS
PS/MR ROWLANDS PS/PUS
MR LARMOUR MR STANLEY MR MALE
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
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