IN CONFIDENCE
1.6 The Unofficial members of EXCO and LEGCO form an organisation, known as UMELCO, which has its own office and staff and which acts
as a forum for discussing matters of current concern. While EXCO members are obliged to regard all Council business as confidential,
it is a function of LEGCO members to seek and react to public opinion on proposed legislation, and the UMELCO office provides them with one means of doing this. UMELCO also receives and investigates
complaints from the public of maladministration by the civil
service.
1.7 The only body participating in the Government of Hong Kong that consists entirely of members of the public is the Urban Council (URBCO). 12 of its 24 members are elected; the remainder are appointed by the Governor from among prominent members of the community. URBCO's responsibilities are limited to the urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon (where, altogether,
about three-quarters of the population live). Its main duties are
public hygiene, the control of recreational and cultural facilities.
1.8 District Boards (and associated District Management Committees) have recently been established in 18 districts, 10 in
the urban area and 8 in the New Territories. One third of the membership of these Boards is elected on a constituency basis with adult suffrage (there are 900,000 registered electors), one third is appointed and one third consists of Government Officials. The Boards provide advice on matters affecting the well-being of the
people at a district level. Elections were held for the first time
in the New Territories in March 1982, and in the urban areas in September 1982. About 50% of registered electors voted in the former, and 35% in the latter.
1.9 There are few organised political groups in Hong Kong. Two small, quasi-political organisations contest URBCO and now District Board elections, but they are really no more than pressure groups
4 -
-
IN CONFIDENCE
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.