Hong Kong authorities have proposed requiring the Medical Council to set a time frame for handling complaints, following public backlash over a 15-year delay to an inquiry into an alleged medical blunder that left a child permanently disabled. The Health Bureau on Friday also proposed reforming the composition of the watchdog, bringing in doctors with…
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…
Senior officials may face disciplinary probes if their departments are found to have performed badly by the ombudsman or audit commissioner under the new accountability system being pushed by the Hong Kong government, the civil service minister has said. Speaking at a Legislative Council panel meeting on Monday, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung…
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…
Hong Kong’s ombudsman is assessing the management of tourist facilities at nature spots, with its investigation aiming to enhance the city’s green tourism push. The Office of the Ombudsman said on Thursday that the investigation was prompted by media reports that essential amenities, such as toilets, were often inadequate and that the information for transport…