WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1988
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT VIEWS ON THE ISSUE WERF DIVIDED AMONG MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP.
EXPLAINING THE GOVERNMENT'S REASONS FOR EXCLUDING THE POLICE AND ICAC, HE SAID THAT BOTH OF THEM ALREADY HAD INDEPENDENTLY MONITORED REDRESS SYSTEMS WHICH WERE WORKING WELL.
BESIDES, IF THE COMMISSIONER
TOOK OVER THESE ORGANISATIONS,
MOST OF HIS TIME WOULD BE TAKEN UP IN DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS THE POLICE WHICH NUMBERED ABOUT 400 PER MONTH.
AGAINST
COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE AND THE ICAC WERE OF A FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT NATURE TO MALADMINISTRATION COMPLAINTS, BEING FOR THE MOST PART JUSTIFIABLE IN THE COURTS OR DISCIPLINE, SIR DAVID ADDED.
INVOLVING INTERNAL
"FOR THESE REASONS, WE DO NOT SEE INCLUSION OF THE POLICE AND THE ICAC AS A PRACTICAL OPTION.
"HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT IT IS OUR INTENTION TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS AS AN EX-OFFICIO MEMBER BOTH THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE AND THE ICAC COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE.
THE
OF
"THIS WILL ALLOW HIM TO LEND HIS EXPERTISE TO THESE MONITORING ORGANISATIONS AND BOLSTER THEIR OPERATION, HE SAID.
..
THE THIRD MAIN ASPECT IN RESPECT OF WHICH THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED NOT TO MAKE ANY CHANGE RELATED TO THE METHOD OF APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMISSIONER.
ON A SUGGESTION BY LEGCO MEMBERS THAT THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT WOULD ENHANCE THE COMMISSIONER'S INDEPENDENT STATUS, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW WAS THAT APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE IN THE CONTEXT. OF HONG KONG'S EXISTING CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.
"I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT GREAT CARE WILL BE TAKEN WHEN MAKING THE APPOINTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE CANDIDATE IS GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE TO THIS COUNCIL AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.
REGARDING A PERCEPTION THAT THE PROPOSED COMMISSIONER WOULD BE INEFFECTIVE OWING TO LIMITED POWERS AND A DESIRE BY SOME COMMENTATORS FOR AN ALL-POWERFUL WATCHDOG TO MONITOR THE GOVERNMENT, SIR DAVID SAID SUCH NOTIONS WERE SOMEWHAT MISCONCEIVED BECAUSE THEY TOOK NO ACCOUNT OF EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS.
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