XN000022-1986-08-20 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1986

CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT: REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES

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THE GOVERNMENT IS INVITING THE VIEWS OF THE COMMUNITY ON THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING SYSTEMS FOR THE REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES AND WHETHER, AND IN WHAT DIRECTION, CHANGES TO THESE SYSTEMS ARE THOUGHT TO BE NEEDED.

IN A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES PUBLISHED TODAY (WEDNESDAY), PUBLIC VIEWS ARE SOUGHT ON WHETHER CHANGES TO THESE SYSTEMS ARE REQUIRED. SUCH CHANGES COULD INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS OF EXISTING CHANNELS BY STRENGTHENING UMELCO, THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS SECRETARIATS AND BY IMPROVING AND STRENGTHENING DEPARTMENTAL COMPLAINTS UNITS. THERE COULD ALSO BE THE CREATION OF A +COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION+ TYPE OF INSTITUTION.

IN ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE DOCUMENT AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY, MR ALAN SCOTT, SAID VIEWS FROM ALL SECTORS OF THE POPULATION WERE WELCOME AND SHOULD BE SENT TO THE PAS(CE) GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, LOWER ALBERT ROAD BEFORE THE END OF OCTOBER. VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE MEDIA AND IN OTHER ARENAS WOULD ALSO BE CAREFULLY MONITORED.

MR SCOTT ADDED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD MADE A COMMITMENT TO PUBLISH THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT DURING HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 30, 1985.

THE DOCUMENT FIRST SETS OUT THE EXISTING SYSTEMS FOR THE REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES. THERE IS A WIDE VARIETY OF CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN COMPLAIN OR SEEK REDRESS AGAINST THE ACTION OR NON-ACTION OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

ALL DEPARTMENTS HAVE ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES TO INVESTIGATE AND ACT ON COMPLAINTS. THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT NOTES THAT +MOST COMPLAINANTS ARE SATISFIED WITH THE ACTION TAKEN, OR THE EXPLANATION GIVEN AT THIS DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL.+

WHEN A COMPLAINANT IS STILL NOT SATISFIED, HE OR SHE CAN TAKE THE COMPLAINT TO MEMBERS OF THE REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS (THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS, AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS). MANY OF THE LAWS OF HONG KONG PROVIDE FOR FORMAL APPEALS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF AUTHORITIES, BOARDS AND TRIBUNALS- OTHERS PROVIDE FOR THE RIGHT OF APPEAL TO THE GOVERNOR OR GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL AGAINST ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS.

A COMPLAINANT CAN ALSO PETITION THE GOVERNOR, THE SECRETARY OF STATE OR HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN.

THERE IS