XN000022-1988-07-20 — Page 5

3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988

"THE COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS TO BE MOVED BY MRS SELINA CHOW WILL FURTHER IMPROVE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF THE BILL," MR MATHEWS SAID.

HE SAID THERE OBVIOUSLY COULD BE OTHER APPROACHES AS DR SOHMEN HAD SUGGESTED.

"HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BUILD ON CHANNELS," HE SAID.

EXISTING MACHINERY AND

"WE ALREADY HAVE A WELL DEVELOPED AND COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM FOR REDRESSING THE GRIEVANCES FELT BY THE PUBLIC ARISING FROM THE ACTS OF THE GOVERNMENT, BASED ON AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY, A PARTIALLY ELECTED LEGISLATURE AND A RANGE OF OTHER CHANNELS.

"IT IS CLEARLY DESIRABLE TO AVOID DISRUPTING THE OPERATION OF THESE EXISTING CHANNELS.

-

'AFTER ALL, GRIEVANCES COULD ARISE FROM GOVERNMENT DECISIONS EVEN WHERE NO MALADMINISTRATION IS INVOLVED AND QUESTIONS OF POLICY ARE OUTSIDE THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS' JURISDICTION.

PH

ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS COMMISSIONER BILL SUPPORTED

THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS BILL 1988 SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BECAUSE, AFTER EXTENSIVE PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECT, THE BILL FINALLY ENABLES HONG KONG TO PROCEED WITH THE SETTING UP OF THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, THE HON.SELINA CHOW SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MRS CHOW SAID THE CONSULTATION PROCESS THAT LED TO THE BILL DESERVED PRAISE.

INADEQUACIES

"IT MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR THE

OF THE ORIGINAL CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT WHICH MANY REGARDED AS SKETCHY AND LACKING IN ¦ INCERITY, SHE SAID.

++

SHE NOTED THAT VARIOUS POINTS RAISED BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE BILL, OF WHICH SHE WAS CONVENER, HAD ALL BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT WITH ONE EXCEPTION.

THE EXCEPTION RELATED TO WHETHER THE POLICE AND THE ICAC OUGHT TO COME UNDER THE COMMISSIONER'S JURISDICTION.

"A FEW