TNAG-1141-FCO40-1421-Parliamentary-question-on-the-creation-of-an-Ombudsman-in-Ho-1982 — Page 6

BACKGROUND

1.

Persons who are aggrieved with Government decisions in

Hong Kong have many channels through which they may appeal.

They can, and usually do, in the first instance appeal to

the Head of the Department concerned. Departmental procedures

for dealing with appeals were extensively reviewed and

standardised 3 years ago and it should not now be difficult

for anybody to have an appeal considered at the appropriate

level. In addition, appeals can be made to District Offices

and to individual Urban Councillors who operate a system of

ward offices for this purpose. They can also be lodged with

UMELCO (Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative

Councils) which has staff dealing full-time with appeals and

complaints. UMELCO's authority to deal with these issues has no

statutory backing but the Governor has directed that Unofficials

should have access to Heads of Departments and to all departmental

files except those dealing with security matters.

2. These systems work well generally. There has been pressure

from time to time for the establishment of an ombudsman in

Hong Kong but present thinking is that there is no need to

replace the UMELCO system.

Hong Kong and General Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1 March 1982