TNAG-1632-FCO40-2248-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-1987 — Page 105

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and Hong Kong's 19 District Boards; and 12 who are elected by functional constituencies representing legal, commercial,

industrial, social services, medical, teaching, labour, financial

and professional groups.

OMELCO

4.

The Office of Members of the Executive and Legislative

Councils (OMELCO) funded by the Hong Kong Government, provides

research and administrative assistance to members. OMELCO is also

an established channel for the redress of grievances, and it handles

all public complaints, appeals and cases of maladministration.

Under the OMELCO redress system, members have the right of access

government records and senior officials and to challenge the

established practices and policies of government departments.

necessary they bring important issues to the attention of ExCo or

LegCo.

5.

When

Members study all Government Bills and any principal course of government action which is important or controversial, or about

which representations are received from public bodies or from

members of the public. The Police Group, which consists of a panel of eight Unofficial members and Justices of the Peace, together with

the Attorney General, monitors the handling of complaints against

the police. Similarly the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Complaints Committee, comprising seven non-Civil Servant

members and the Attorney General, monitors the handling of

complaints against the ICAC. Various OMELCO panels meet regularly with senior government officials. Issues and policies of importance are discussed at these meetings. These policies are also debated

and senior officials of the administration publicly questioned at

full LegCo meetings.

The Municipal Councils

6.

The only bodies participating in the government of Hong Kong that consist entirely of members of the public are the Urban Council

(UrbCo) and the Regional Council (RegCo). Half of UrbCo's 30

members are elected; the remainder are appointed by the Government

from among prominent members of the community. The most recent

elections were held in March 1986.

UrbCo's responsibilities are

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