4.8
UMELCO
CONFIDENTIAL
機密
UMELCO provides another formal mechanism established outside Government, but with access to authority at the highest levels, to handle "complaints". UMELCO action will normally cause a Government department to correct errors or deficiencies or to re-examine action or decisions where there have been exceptional circumstances. The role of UMELCO in handling complaints has recently been extended by the formation of an Independent Commission Against Corruption Complaints Committee and a UMELCO Police Group. Both the Committee and the Group are chaired by a senior UMELCO member and involve other UMELCO members in following specific terms of reference. The Committee/Group will, when it considers appropriate, make recommendations to the Commissioner of the I.C.A.C./Commissioner of Police or, when considered necessary, to the Governor.
4.9 Urban Council
A formal system exists by which members of the Urban Council make themselves available to the public to receive complaints, discuss grievances, etc. and this is conducted on a Ward basis.
4.0 Justices of the Peace
For several years now the system of J.P.s visits has played an important part in extending the practical accountability of Government to the public. The large number of official and appointed J.P.s form a body of mature and knowledgeable men and women who gather information, receive complaints, listen to grievances, and gain impressions during their "visits". The visits cover Government or subvented institutions (e.g. Prisons, Remand Centres, Orphanages, Old Peoples Homes) or they may be merely to a certain geographical district to survey general cleanliness, provision of utility and transport facilities, gain impressions of the state of general law and order, etc. The visits are carried out as informally as possible although some times the J.P.s are briefed on local circumstances by Government officers. Mechanisms exist in all Government departments for the comments and criticisms of J.P.s to be acted upon or referred to the appropriate organisation outside Government. Additionally, all J.P. reports are sent to the Chief Secretary (Councils Section).
4.11 The I.C.A.C.
too
a
The I.C.A.C. has an important part to play. It is the task of the Community Relations department to educate the public against the evils of corruption and to enlist and foster their support in combatting corruption. These aims are far-reaching and involve not only the promotion of greater civic awareness in the community and greater faith in good government but inevitably also a fundamental change of public attitudes towards corruption and the development of higher moral, social and ethical standards in Hong Kong.
4.12 Initially, the Commission's credibility depended to a large extent on the
effectiveness of the Operations department: but, having instilled a proper fear of detection amongst the corrupt in the public service and in the public generally, the Corruption Prevention and Community Relations departments have become progressively more important. The aim of the former is to reduce opportunities for corruption, particularly in the public service, but long-term success depends on the ability of the Community Relations department to exploit the new atmosphere to bring about what
CONFIDENTIAL
/His ..
機密