XN000022-1987-04-08 — Page 38

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987

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MR LAU STRESSED THAT THE ULTIMATE AIM OF ESTABLISHING A COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION WAS TO ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ADMINISTRATION ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT.

ANY ARGUMENT THAT THE EXISTENCE OF THE 1CAC REMOVED THE NEED OF A COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION COULD NOT HOLD WATER, HE SAID.

MR LAU EMPHASISED THAT ADEQUATE POWER OF INVESTIGATION MUST BE DELEGATED TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION, WHO MUST BE GIVEN FULL AUTHORITY TO DECIDE ON THE COURSE OF ACTION TO BE TAKEN WHEN A COMPLAINT WAS RECEIVED.

VESTED WITH SUCH POWER AS CALLING IN THE OFFICERS CONCERNED OR EVEN HAVING ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS FOR INSPECTION, COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE GRIEVANCES THOROUGHLY, HE NOTED.

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MOREOVER, HE SAID THE COMMISSIONER COULD MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE WAYS TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED OR RECTIFY THEIR MISTAKES.

TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION WOULD DISCHARGE HIS DUTIES EFFECTIVELY AND UPHOLD JUSTICE, MR LAU SUGGESTED THAT HE SHOULD SUBMIT WORKING REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REGULARLY.

+IT WILL ENABLE THE COUNCIL TO HAVE A FULL PICTURE OF HIS WORK. IF EVER HE PRACTISES FAVOURITISM, THE COUNCIL MAY GIVE FULL PLAY TO ITS MONITORING FUNCTION AND KEEP MALADMINISTRATION UNDER CONTROL BY REFERRING TO HIS REPORTS,+ HE SAID.

MR LAU SAID: +IF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IS TO BE UPHELD AND HONG KONG TO REMAIN STABLE AND CONTINUE TO PROSPER, WE MUST HAVE AN

IMPARTIAL AND EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT.+

HE WAS THEREFORE CONFIDENT THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION WOULD HELP IN ACHIEVING THIS GOAL.

+ IF APPROPRIATE STATUS AND POWER ARE DELEGATED TO THE SUITABLE PERSON, I AM SURE THAT THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION WILL PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE REDRESS SYSTEM OF HONG KONG, + HE SAID.

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