XN000022-1987-04-08 — Page 35

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987

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HE SAID THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE WOULD BE SEEN AS A SIGNIFICANT MOVE TOWARDS OPEN GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG.

+CONFIDENCE BY THE CITIZENS IN RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE AUTHORITY MUST BE A DESIRABLE OBJECTIVE FOR ANY GOVERNMENT, AND IF AN OMBUDSMAN IS A POSSIBLE METHOD TO ACHIEVE IT, WE MUST BE WILLING TO MAKE THE EFFORT,+ HE CONCLUDED.

COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION ESSENTIAL AND NECESSARY *****

THE SETTING UP OF A COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION WAS AN ESSENTIAL AND NECESSARY MEASURE WHICH SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THE HON ROSANNA TAM SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES, MRS TAM GAVE HER SUPPORT TO THE NEED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPING THE REDRESS SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.

SHE SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS NOW ON THE THRESHOLD OF POLITICAL CHANGES, TO ENSURE THAT WE PASS THROUGH THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD SMOOTHLY, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO MAINTAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR RESIDENTS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.+

SHE SAID SHE BELIEVED A SOUND REDRESS SYSTEM WOULD NOT ONLY SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS, BUT ALSO ENHANCE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN THE GOVERNMENT.

ALTHOUGH THERE WERE QUITE A NUMBER OF AVENUES OF COMPLAINTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN HONG KONG, MRS TAM SAID THEY WERE SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS.

+AS FAR AS THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES ARE CONCERNED, IT IS TRUE THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE OMELCO CAN REFLECT VIEWS AND GRIEVANCES OF THE PUBLIC TO THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED.

+HOWEVER, WITH REGARDS TO THOSE CONCERNING MALADMINISTRATION IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE ABOVE ORGANISATIONS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY DO NOT POSSESS ADEQUATE INVESTIGATORY POWER,+ SHE SAID.

/FURTHERMORE, MEMBERS