XN000022-1988-06-10 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1988

COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS BILL 1988 GAZETTED

THE GOVERNMENT HAS REVISED SOME OF ITS EARLIER PROPOSALS REGARDING THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND PROCEDURES OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS (C FOR AC) IN THE LIGHT 아 COMMENTS MADE BY THE PUBLIC AND A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP.

THE REVISED PROPOSALS WERE PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY) IN THE GAZETTE IN THE FORM OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS BILL 1988.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE BILL OUTCOME OF A THOROUGH PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE.

REPRESENTED THE

"THAT EXERCISE STARTED IN AUGUST 1986 WITH THE PUBLICATION OF

A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON THE REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.

"A CLEAR MAJORITY OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN RESPONSE ΤΟ THAT DOCUMENT FAVOURED THE INTRODUCTION OF AN INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING MALADMINISTRATION,

SAID.

+ THE SPOKESMAN

DETAILED PROPOSALS WERE THEN DRAWN UP FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, TERMS OF REFERENCE AND PROCEDURES OF THE C FOR AC. THESE WERE PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 30 LAST YEAR IN THE FORM OF A "WHITE

BILL" THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS BILL 1987, AND PUBLIC COMMENT WAS AGAIN INVITED.

DURING THE TWO-MONTH CONSULTATION PERIOD WHICH FOLLOWED, 24 WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM VARIOUS GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS.

THE GOVERNMENT ALSO TOOK NOTE OF THE OPINIONS OF SOME 30 INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS AS REPORTED IN THE PRESS, AS WELL AS THE EDITORIAL VIEWS EXPRESSED BY NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS THEMSELVES.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SET UP AN AD HOC GROUP TO STUDY THE WHITE BILL AND THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON IT.

LAST NOVEMBER

DEPUTY CHIEF

THE GROUP HELD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE SECRETARY AND SUBSEQUENTLY FORWARDED ITS DETAILED COMMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT IN MARCH THIS YEAR.

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED MANY OF THE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS MADE BY THE PUBLIC AND THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP AND HAS REFLECTED THESE IN THE REVISED BILL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

OF THE

HE EXPLAINED, HOWEVER, THAT THE GOVERNMENT REMAINED VIEW THAT ACCESS TO THE C FOR AC SHOULD BE THROUGH MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ALTHOUGH MOST COMMENTATORS HAD SUGGESTED THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THEIR COMPLAINTS TO THE C FOR AC DIRECT.

THE SPOKESMAN