Hong Kong’s ombudsman has urged the government to empower conservation officers to enter people’s homes to investigate suspected animal cruelty cases, describing existing procedures as “ineffective” with less than 1 per cent of reported cases resulting in prosecutions. A report released on Thursday on the Office of the Ombudsman’s latest direct investigation operation also called…
Hong Kong’s ombudsman has found that the Medical Council’s complaint-handling processes are excessively lengthy and plagued by a persistent backlog of cases, urging the watchdog and authorities to hasten procedures to uphold public confidence. The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday released its investigation findings into the effectiveness of administrative support provided by the secretariat…
The Office of the Ombudsman has raised concerns over frequent landslides occurring at government man-made slopes in Hong Kong, highlighting that one location had four landslides in different areas within five years. In a direct investigation report released on Thursday, the office reviewed nine serious landslides that occurred since 2008. It found that most slopes…
Hong Kong’s ombudsman has established an international academy to help prevent maladministration, as a minister urged officials to respond to residents’ complaints with an “open mindset” and turn them into momentum for improvement. The Hong Kong International Ombudsman Academy would take the form of an online platform offering thematic events for government departments, public organisations…
The number of direct investigations led by Hong Kong’s ombudsman has dropped by nearly 60 per cent, reaching the lowest level in five years, as his office increasingly relied on mediation to “foster harmony” when handling complaints. A comparison of the latest annual report from Ombudsman Jack Chan Jick-chi on Wednesday with past versions also…
The distinctive topography of Hong Kong, with steep hills rising majestically from the sea and skyscrapers sandwiched in between, gives the city its beauty. But the presence of densely populated areas so close to soaring slopes means landslides are a constant danger, especially during torrential summer rains. A stark reminder was provided in September 2023,…