XN000022-1994-07-06 — Page 10

1 1

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1994

GOVT MINUTE TO COMAC'S ANNUAL REPORT

READY IN THREE MONTHS' TIME

*

THE FIRST GOVERNMENT MINUTE IN RESPONSE TO THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS (COMAC) WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THREE MONTHS' TIME.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHEN PRESENTING TO THE COUNCIL COMAC'S SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT.

"WE PROPOSE THAT THE MINUTE SHOULD COVER THE ACTION GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN OR PROPOSES TO TAKE IN RESPONSE TO COMAC'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN RELATION TO COMPLAINTS WHICH ARE FOUND SUBSTANTIATED OR SUBSTANTIATED IN THE REPORT, MRS CHAN SAID.

PARTIALLY

THE CHIEF SECRETARY NOTED THAT THERE WAS GROWING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE COMAC SCHEME AS REFLECTED IN THE GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE.

FOR THE TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD ENDING LAST MONTH, COMAC'S OFFICE HAVE RECEIVED 1,054 ENQUIRIES AND 173 COMPLAINTS, A SEVEN TO EIGHT PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE RESPECTIVE FIGURES FOR 1992/93.

THE NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES RECEIVED IS RECORD HIGH. AND WE ARE LIKELY ΤΟ SEE A BIGGER INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES AND COMPLAINS RECEIVED BY COMAC'S OFFICE IN THE COMING YEAR SINCE COMAC'S REMIT HAS BEEN WIDENED AND THE PUBLIC CAN NOW HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO COMAC," SHE SAID.

IN

THE NUMBER OF SUBSTANTIATED AND PARTIALLY SUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS REMAINED FAIRLY STABLE, 37 IN 1993/94 AS COMPARED TO 36 1992/93.

MRS CHAN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WELCOMED THE COMAC'S COMMENT THAT "THE FACT THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATED SO FAR WERE UNSUBSTANTIATED IS GOOD EVIDENCE OF THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE STANDARD IN HONG KONG", ALTHOUGHT THE ADMINSTRATION WAS NOT COMPLACENT.

"WE MUST REMAIN EVER VIGILANT AGAINST MALADMINISTRATION.

"IN THIS REGARD, THE VERY GOOD PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN PUBLISHING AND IMPLEMENTING PERFORMANCE PLEDGES PROVIDE A VERY GOOD YARDSTICK AGAINST WHICH BOTH CLIENTS AND THE SERVICING DEPARTMENT CAN MEASURE THE STANDARD OF SERVICE.

*

"WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS IN THIS REGARD, SHE ADDED.

12

Page 10Page 11