WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992
30
DIRECT ACCESS TO COMAC PROPOSED
PUBLIC THE
WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN DIRECTLY TO THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS (COMAC) UNDER
THE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE GOVERNOR, PROPOSALS CHRISTOPHER PATTEN.
ANNOUNCED
RT HON
IN HIS
MR POLICY ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, PROPOSED THREE CHANGES TO COMAC:
PATTEN
THE
AT PRESENT, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN ONLY ASK COMMISSIONER TO INVESTIGATE THEIR COMPLAINTS THROUGH A NON-
MEMBER OFFICIAL
OF THIS COUNCIL. IN FUTURE, THE PUBLIC SHOULD
THE RIGHT TO TAKE COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY
HAVE
COMMISSIONER;
ΤΟ
THE
*
AT PRESENT, THE COMMISSIONER IS UNABLE то INVESTIGATION REPORTS. THIS RESTRICTION SHOULD BE LIFTED. BUT,
OF COURSE, WE MUST CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY THE PEOPLE INVOLVED;
PUBLICISE
HIS
OF
EXTENDED
TO
HE
A
THE COMMISSIONER'S JURISDICTION SHOULD BE INCLUDE COMPLAINTS AGAINST STATUTORY BODIES SUCH AS THE MTRC AND THE KCRC.
OFFICE WOULD
AND THE
SAID WITH THESE CHANGES, THE COMMISSIONER'S MORE EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARD AGAINST MALADMINISTRATION ARBITRARY USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE POWER.
PROVE
MR PATTEN SAID COMAC WAS ONE ADDITIONAL ELEMENT IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENSURING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR ITS DECISIONS AND ACTIONS, WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS UNDERDEVELOPED.
0
LEGCO/EXCO TO BE SEPARATED
* * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO SEPARATE, FOR THE TIME BEING, THE NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE ᎡᎢ HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, IN HIS POLICY SPEECH TO LEGCO TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID THAT AT THE PRESENT STAGE OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT HE HAD CONCLUDED THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY OVERLAPPING MEMBERSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
"I INTEND, FOR THE TIME BEING, TO SEPARATE THE NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE TWO BODIES.
/"THIS SHOULD