10.
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the action to be taken, in such matters is vested in the Governor
or any department.
The grant of honours, awards or privileges within tho gift of tho
Crown, including the grant of Royal Charters.
Objects and Reasons.
This Bill seeks to establish a Commissioner for Administration,
whose function it would be to investigate complaints about administrative decisions reached by government dopartments and other official or semi-
official organizations listed in the First Schedule.
The Bill generally follows the New Zealand Parliamentary Commissioner (Ombudsman) Act 1962. Although certain provisions have been taken from the United Kingdom Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967. the Now Zealand model is less restrictive and appears to give the Commissioner more
It has been satisfactory powers to investigate and report on grievances. necessary to amend some parts of that act to accord more closely with the
constitutional position of Hong Kong.
The Bill is intended to provide, for the ordinary citizen, some means whereby a person independent of the public service can investigate, and report on, grievances arising from administrative decisions, acts,
recommendations or omissions.
It will be noted that the Commissioner reports
to the Governor, on whom rests the ultimate local responsibility for the
administration of the Colony.
Part I deals with preliminary matters.
It is to be noted that
clauso 1(2) excludes, from tho time limit of twelve months within which complaints must be made, the poriod botwoon the passing and the Ommencement
of the Ordinance.
Part II provides for the appointment of the Commissionor for Administration and his staff. His appointment will be for a period of three years, though he may be reappointed. Although he may resign, ho may otherwise only be removed or suspended in the same manner as is provided in the Hong Kong Lotters Patent for the removal or suspension of a Supreme