CON FI DENTIAL
3
activity and policy formation.
UMELCO also runs an office whose functions combine those in part of an Ombudsman with many such as are carried out by a United Kingdom Citizens' Advice Bureau.
7. The degree to which the members of UMELCO are representative of the people of Hong Kong is disputable. Since they are appointed and not elected, their authority derives from their professional expertise, business capacity, knowledge of English and ability to command the respect of some section of the public. In practice this has in the past restricted candidates to those who have come to notice through the time and effort they have devoted to public and charitable work. This in turn has meant that they have generally been rich members of the financial or commercial establishment. The
composition of the Legislative Council has been the source of criticism New appointments to the Council, designed to ensure that the views of all sections of the community in Hong Kong are better represented, were made at the end of August last year. The new members include
•
a trade unionist and three others closely associated with the working population of Hong Kong and their problems.
8. The Governor is aware of the limitations of the Legislative Council as a means of keeping in touch with public opinion and has devised a number of methods to overcome this weakness. Besides the Urban Council, a semi-elected body responsible mainly for certain public health matters and the provision of parks and amenities, a large number of unofficial advisory committees and local community organisations have been developed to provide a bridge between the Government and the public. City District Officers government officers stationed in various parts of Hong Kong
a further channel of communication.
provide
The Hong Kong/UK Relationship.
9.
Hong-Kong
In practice Hong Kong enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy in the management of its affairs, particularly in the commercial, financial and economic sectors. At the same time it is appreciated
CONFIDENTIAL
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