XN000022-1987-04-08 — Page 28

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987

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FIRSTLY, HE SAID, SUCH A COMMISSIONER WOULD BE IN POSITION TO TAKE OVER ON PRESENT INDICATIONS UP TO ABOUT HALF THE CASES WHICH WERE RECEIVED BY THE OMELCO COMPLAINTS DIVISION EVERY YEAR, AND HE WOULD BE SEEN BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BE ACTING INDEPENDENTLY OF OMELCO AND OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

SECONDLY, THE FACT OF HAVING A SEPARATE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE THE SALUTARY EFFECT OF PUTTING THE HEADS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS EVEN MORE ON THEIR TOES IN THE PROCESSING OF COMPLAINTS EFFICIENTLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY.

THIRDLY, FROM TIME TO TIME HIS REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE TO BE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, AND AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR HIS ANNUAL REPORT COULD BE DEBATED BY THE COUNCIL.

FOURTHLY, THE SETTING UP OF A COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION WOULD NOT IN ANY WAY DETRACT FROM THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF OTHER CHANNELS OF COMPLAINT, SUCH AS THE WARD OFFICES OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS, URBAN COUNCILLORS, REGIONAL COUNCILLORS AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID MUCH WOULD DEPEND ON HOW SUCCESSFULLY A HONG KONG-STYLE OMBUDSMAN OR COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM COULD BE DEVISED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND THE HONG KONG POLITICAL SYSTEM.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE SYSTEM COULD NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE AN IDENTICAL MODEL OF THE NEW ZEALAND, CANADIAN, SCANDINAVIAN OR THE BRITISH SYSTEMS.

MR CHEONG-LEEN ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO PREPARE A DETAILED REPORT ON THE SETTING UP OF A COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION BEFORE TAKING A FINAL DECISION.

STRENGTHENING OF OMELCO COMPLAINTS DIVISION ADVOCATED

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THE HON CHUNG PUI-LAM TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID HE BELIEVED THAT A STRENGTHENED OMELCO COMPLAINTS DIVISION SHOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE PROPOSED COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION IN HANDLING COMPLAINTS.

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON THE REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES, MR CHUNG SAID THAT AS THE PUBLIC HAD FOR LONG BEEN WELCOMED TO LODGE THEIR COMPLAINTS WITH OMELCO, IT WAS ONLY NATURAL TO EXPAND THE JURISDICTION OF OMELCO IN RESPECT OF THE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS.

/HE NOTED