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Bill to enhance COMAC's operation
The Governor-in-Council today (Tuesday) endorsed the introduction of the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints (Amendment) Bill 1996 into the Legislative Council on July 10.
The Bill aims to enhance the operation of the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints (COMAC) and to provide him with greater flexibility in procedural
matters.
"Giving COMAC greater flexibility in procedural matters will enable him to deal with simple complaints in a more efficient manner," a government spokesman said.
The Bill also seeks to bring the Police, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and the Secretariats of the Independent Police Complaints Council and the Public Service Commission within COMAC's purview in the exercise of their administrative functions in relation to the Code on Access to Information so that COMAC can investigate complaints of non-compliance with the Code against these bodies.
"A common independent review body for all government departments will enable complaints under the Code on Access to Information to be handled more efficiently and consistently," the spokesman added.
The Code on Access to Information is to be extended throughout the Administration by the end of the year.
The Bill also proposes that COMAC's English title be changed to "The Ombudsman".
The spokesman said COMAC considered that this would facilitate his contacts with his overseas counterparts. No change is proposed to his Chinese title.
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