TNAG-1372-FCO40-1818-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 126

GRS 300

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2225

OF 1809OOZ OCTOBER 85

24

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY

HHH 027/6 нии

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 1 OCT 1985

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

MR. RENTON'S VISIT: BRIEFING: REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATION APPEALS PROCEDURE

LINE TO TAKE

1. UNDERSTAND THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND UMELCO BOTH CONDUCTING REVIEWS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS PROCEDURES. UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE WORKING VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.

2. HAVE READ WITH INTEREST REPORTS OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF OMBUDSMAN. CONFIDENT THAT REVIEWS IN PROGRESS WILL EXPLORE ALL AVENUES AND WILL MAKE SENSIBLE PROPOSALS WHICH WILL BE OF BENEFIT TO PUBLIC.

3. KNOW THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO TAKING VIEWS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE FULLY INTO ACCOUNT.

BACKGROUND

4. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WORKING PARTY SET UP IN JULY 1985 TO REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR APPEALS AGAINST ADMINISTRATION DECISIONS. PREPARING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY EXCO.

5. UMELCO ALSO RECONSIDERING ITW OWN COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF INTRODUCTION OF PARTLY INDIRECTLY ELECTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. UMELCO CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT LIKELY TO BE ISSUED BEFORE END OF THIS YEAR.

6. BOTH STUDIES LIKELY TO PROPOSE THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS OF MALADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE TAKEN OVER BY AN OMBUDSMAN.

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