XN000022-1993-07-21 — Page 34

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REDRESS SYSTEM TO BE IMPROVED

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1993

THE INCLUSION OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS (COMAC) WILL ENHANCE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THEM, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID.

ΤΟ

SIX PUBLIC BODIES, INCLUDING THE TWO COUNCILS, ARE PROPOSED BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF ORGANISATIONS SUBJECT TO THE COMMISSIONER'S MONITORING UNDER THE COMAC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

FOUR OF THE BODIES MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION, KOWLOON- CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION, THE SECURITIES AND FUTURES COMMISSION AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAVE AGREED TO THE PROPOSED INCLUSION.

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MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, SIR DAVID NOTED THAT THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS HAD EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT AGREE WITH THEIR VIEWS.

THE TWO COUNCILS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL MUNICIPAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WHICH HAVE DIRECT AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR DAILY LIVELIHOOD, HE SAID.

WOULD ADDED.

"FOR THEM TO BE EXEMPTED FROM COMAC'S INDEPENDENT MONITORING CLEARLY BE AGAINST THE WISHES AND INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC, HE

"

SIR DAVID SAID TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT NOT ONLY THE EXECUTIVE AGENCIES OF THE COUNCILS

THE URBAN SERVICES AND REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS WERE INCLUDED, BUT ALSO THE PRINCIPAL BODIES.

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"THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT COMAC'S RECOMMENDATIONS INVOLVING THE COUNCILS COULD BE EFFECTIVELY PURSUED, HE EXPLAINED.

T

POINTED OUT

THAT

IN ADDITION, HE

ELECTED MEMBERS ACCOUNTABILITY TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH THE PROVISION OF AN INDEPENDENT REDRESS SYSTEM.

"VOTING ELECTED MEMBERS OUT OF OFFICE CANNOT IN ITSELF HELP THE AGGRIEVED INDIVIDUAL.

“COMAC CAN HELP THE COMPLAINANT SEEK PROPER AND IMMEDIATE REDRESS THROUGH HIS INVESTIGATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO THE COUNCIL," HE SAID.

SIR DAVID STRESSED THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS BEING COMPROMISED.

ANOTHER PROPOSAL OF THE BILL IS DIRECT PUBLIC ACCESS TO

THE

COMMISSIONER.

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"THIS WILL MAKE THE COMAC OFFICE MORE CONVENIENT TO MEMBERS THE PUBLIC HE SAID. J

OF

AT PRESENT,