ENG-1973 — Page 28

6

THE COMMUNITY

system in the urban areas meant that it was hardly represented in the city districts. The administration was based on functional rather than regional divisions. Although such a system is economical and efficient to operate, it has serious political disadvan- tages at the local level.

It was to overcome these disadvantages that the City District Offices were established in 1968, as part of the then Secretariat for Chinese Affairs. The urban areas were divided into 10 districts, four in Hong Kong and six in Kowloon. Each district is in the charge of an administrative officer, who heads a staff of liaison officers.

City District Offices have been busy with a wide variety of activities, explaining government policies and actions to the public, reporting on public reaction, keeping in close contact with kaifongs and other local organisations, co-ordinating the activi- ties of government departments in their districts, arranging summer activities for youth, and providing a public enquiry and complaints service.

Established in shop premises in the main streets of each district, the City District Offices have become an accepted part of the urban landscape. In 1973, the public enquiry counters in CDOS and the Home Affairs Department received 1.5 million queries, compared with a total of 1.4 million in 1972.

The UMELCO office

Unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils established the UMELCO office in 1964. This office operates both like an MP's constituency office and like an Ombudsman.

Set up primarily to deal with public complaints and representations, the office was considerably expanded and reinforced in August 1970, since when the number of cases dealt with has increased from an average of 19 a month to just over 200 a month.

In addition to dealing with complaints and representations, the office serves as a method whereby members of the public can make known their views on matters of topical public concern.

Comments on draft legislation, submitted to the UMELCO office, are considered by the unofficials during the process of law enactment. As a result changes are fre- quently made during the committee stage of a bill.

The Urban Council Ward System

The ward system, established in 1965, whereby Urban Councillors keep in touch with the public, serves as a valuable adjunct to the other available channels for assessing public opinion.

Most of the 14 ward offices are located in densely populated areas, where members of the public can meet and discuss with an Urban Councillor their problems and difficulties, and learn something of the council's policies and practices.