TNAG-1373-FCO40-1819-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 163

[ SUNAAG]

BACKGROUND

CONFIDENTIAL

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 its 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 investigating complaints of maladministration

maladministration should be tak en

by an Ombudsman.

for

over

7.

Government review also considering non-statutory avenues of

appeal and petitions to the Governor, to the Secretary of State and to the Queen or the Queen in Council as well as statutory appeals to

tribunals Appeal Boards,

and the Governor ог Governor in Council

specifically provided for in legislation.

Broad proposals on the status and functions of an Ombudsman or Commissioner for Administration are likely to be forwarded to FCO

8.

shortly.

9.

Need

also to consider whether

the Chinese should

that they should be

be

as

a

informed

consulted. Present

is thinking

courtesy in advance

in advance of the publication of the proposals (which would

probably

form of a Green paper) but not

take the

consulted.

ONFIDENTIAL