TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 189

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FM HONG KONG 010844Z FEB 83

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 170 OF 1 FEBRUARY

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

YOUR TELNO 89 OF 28 JANUARY.

ORAL PQ : INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS

1. YOUR PROPOSED REPLY AGREED.

HITKO11/3

- 8 FEB 1983

кун

1 Afal

2. BACKGROUND MATERIAL: THE MAIN MECHANISM FOR INVESTIGATING

COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES ABOUT PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG IS THE ''UMELCO SYSTEM'', THAT IS, THE OFFICE OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

UMELCO IS NOT DEFINED OR CONFINED BY LAW. IT HANDLES ALL PUBLIC COMPLAINTS, APPEALS AND REPRESENTATIONS MADE TO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WHICH ALLEGE OFFICIAL MALADMINISTRATION. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT FILES SEMI COLON THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICERS SEMI COLON AND THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE A DEPARTMENT'S DECISIONS OR ACTIONS.

3. THE UMELCO SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN TWO AREAS OF PARTICULAR SENSITIVITY THROUGH THE APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF AN ICAC COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE AND A UMELCO POLICE GROUP, BOTH OF WHOSE TERMS OF REFERENCE INCLUDE MONITORING, AND WHERE APPROPRIATE REVIEWING, THE HANDLING BY THE ICAC OR POLICE OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST WHICHEVER BODY.

4. THERE IS ALSO THE ROLE OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, WHO MAKE REGULAR VISITS TO PRISONS, HOSPITALS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS WHICH HOLD PERSONS IN GOVERNMENT CARE OR CUSTODY. THEY HEAR COMPLAINTS AND MAKE WRITTEN REPORTS ON THEIR VISITS.

5. FINALLY, UNDER COLONIAL REGULATION 168 THERE IS THE RIGHT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR ON MATTERS OF A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE NATURE.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HKL GD

MR.DONALD

COPIES TO:

MR. WEBB - JOHNSON

HKGO.

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