XN000022-1987-04-08 — Page 36

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987

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FURTHERMORE. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL INCREASINGLY IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES WITH THEIR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPS, AND WERE RESPONSIBLE TO THESE BODIES. CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS MIGHT ARISE IF THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE

INVESTIGATION OF MALADMINISTRATION OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

+

+HENCE, TO FURTHER DEVELOP OUR COMPLAINT SYSTEM, IT IS NOT

GOOD ENOUGH TO MERELY IMPROVE THE EXISTING CHANNELS.

+WE MUST CREATE AN INDEPENDENT AND IMPARTIAL REDRESS AUTHORITY INVESTED WITH ADEQUATE POWER TO HANDLE PUBLIC COMPLAINTS ABOUT MALADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

+THE PROPOSED COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION IS AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION,+ SHE SAID,

COMMENTING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION, MRS TAM SAID THAT THE COMMISSIONER, WHO COULD BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, SHOULD MAINTAIN A HIGH DEGREE OF INDEPENDENCE AND NEUTRALITY.

+ALSO, HIS TENURE OF OFFICE SHOULD BE FIXED FOR A RELATIVELY LONG PERIOD OF TIME, ONCE APPOINTED, HE SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED AT WILL.

+ THE OFFICER SHOULD HAVE FULL POWER TO EMPLOY STAFF HE NEEDS AND ALL EXPENDITURE SHOULD BE DEFRAYED BY A SEPARATE FUND.

+ THE STATUS AND POWER OF THE COMMISSIONER MUST BE CONFERRED AND SAFEGUARDED BY STATUTE,+ MRS TAM SAID.

ON THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION, MRS TAM SAID HE WAS TO HANDLE PUBLIC COMPLAINTS CONCERNING MALADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

AS SUCH, HE SHOULD NOT REPLACE THE EXISTING REDRESS AVENUES. ON THE CONTRARY, THE WORK OF THE NEW AND OLD COMPLAINTS CHANNELS SHOULD BE COMPLEMENTARY.

AFTER THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION HAD BEEN SET UP, THE OMELCO SHOULD CONTINUE TO HANDLE PUBLIC COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES, MRS TAM SAID.

REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION AND THE PUBLIC, SHE SAID THE TWO SHOULD HAVE A GOOD COMMUNICATION.

+S INCE THE REDRESS CASES HANDLED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE PERSONS CONCERNED THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO LODGE COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY TO THE COMMISSIONER OTHER THAN THROUGH THE OMELCO, IN ORDER TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC INTERESTS AND TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SEEK REDRESS, + SHE SAID.

/LASTLY, MRS