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Constitution and Administration
The Ombudsman completed 12 direct investigations in 2017-18, which concerned:
• the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's criteria and procedures for procuring and withdrawing library materials;
• the mechanism of the Food and Health Bureau and the Department of Health for handling smoking offences;
• the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's criteria for publicising the list of traders involved after issuing a Food Safety Order;
• the Social Welfare Department's support services for persons with or suspected to have mental health problems and their families, carers and neighbours;
• the Water Supplies Department's maintenance of government water mains and risk.
management;
• the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's system of safety control for imported fruits and vegetables;
⚫ the government's regulation of factory canteens;
⚫ the Lands Department's enforcement against a village house with irregularities;
the arrangement between the Housing Department and Water Supplies Department regarding the payment of water charges for common areas and vacant units in public housing estates;
the Hong Kong Airport Authority's mechanism for issuing Airport Restricted Area Permits;
⚫ the government's control over fly-tipping of construction waste and landfilling activities
on private land; and
⚫ the Transport Department's handling of a road section enclosed and left idle for a
prolonged period.
The Ombudsman received 11,424 enquiries and 4,826 complaints in 2017-18. Areas attracting a substantial number of complaints related to error, wrong advice or decision, delay or inaction, and ineffective control.
Although the Ombudsman has no authority to enforce recommendations, 83.3 per cent of her recommendations had been accepted by the organisations concerned as at 31 March 2018.
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