The Commissioner Against Corruption Chan Tsz King participated in the 13^th General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) by videoconference this evening.

At the meeting, the joining of numerous new members was endorsed and, according to the Constitution, the reappointment of the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of Hong Kong, Woo Ying-ming, as the President of the IAACA for three years was also endorsed, among the others. Moreover, at the meeting, the initiatives for 2024 were set, including continuously and jointly prevent and combat corruption crimes, jointly organising the 8^th Symposium with the ICAC, organising a series of training courses and workshops and expanding liaison between the IAACA and the international and regional anti-corruption organisations, etc.

Established in Beijing in 2006, the IAACA is an important platform for experience sharing and exchange among anti-corruption institutions from different countries and regions. Up to now, over 160 anti-corruption institutions from different countries and regions have joined the IAACA as members. One of the objectives of the IAACA is to promote and take forward the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and to strengthen international cooperation among anti-corruption institutions from different countries and regions in combating crimes of corruption.

The Ombudsman, Ms Winnie Chiu, announced the completion of a direct investigation into the regulation by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (“FEHD”) over the sale of food in hot/cold holding and non-prepackaged beverages by means of vending machine, and made ten recommendations for improvement to FEHD.

In recent years, more and a wider variety of vending machines selling food in hot/cold holding and non-prepackaged beverages are emerging on the market.  As at the end of September 2023, there were 489 vending machines in Hong Kong with a vending machine permit (“VM Permit”) issued by FEHD under the Food Business Regulation to sell the above-mentioned types of food.  The investigation by the Office of The Ombudsman reveals that some permit holders have not complied stringently with the licensing requirements and conditions imposed by FEHD, and there is room for improvement on the part of FEHD in its regulatory work when approving applications for VM Permits and monitoring licensed vending machines.

Ms Chiu said, “FEHD issues permits to operators of vending machines for the purpose of protecting food safety and public health.  This Office considers that FEHD should act pre-emptively to ensure the effectiveness of its regulatory measures amid the growth of this business mode.  Summing up our findings, we urge FEHD to improve the record keeping for approval of VM Permits, step up monitoring of licensed vending machines, and enhance public awareness of the regulation over vending machines through publicity, thereby protecting food safety and public health.”

The Office’s recommendations made to FEHD are:

• require VM Permit applicants to submit information about the devices and operation of vending machines and keep it in the case files;
• update existing guidelines with instructions to staff on how to compile specific records of pre-approval inspection;
• beef up the licensing conditions with clear and specific details on temperature control, machine cleansing and sterilisation, and record keeping; explore stepping up random checks on permit holders’ records of temperature control and machine cleansing and sterilisation as part of its monitoring work;
• explore the feasibility of more proactive bacteriological testing of food and beverages sold by means of vending machine, thereby reinforcing licensing control;
• step up publicity to raise public awareness of licensed vending machines and relevant licensing conditions;
• revise licensing requirements such that permit holders shall display the VM Permit or its copy on the outside of machines, and disseminate information about the licensing requirements/​conditions imposed on vending machines to facilitate public monitoring of their compliance;
• require all vending machines of food under temperature control to be fitted with an externally readable thermometer or to provide relevant information;
• review the List of Permitted Premises available on FEHD website to ensure that the addresses listed thereon are sufficient for the public to locate the vending machines; and
• from the perspective of food safety, provide organisations dispensing free food by self-service machines with important information and good practices for safeguarding public hygiene and health.

FEHD has accepted all of the improvement recommendations.

The full investigation report is available on the website of the Office of The Ombudsman for public viewing.

At the invitation of the Honourable Ombudsman Sindh, Mr. Ajaz Ali Khan, President IOI Asia Region and Chief Ombudsman Honorable Mr. Somsak Suwansujarit along with his wife Mrs. Nipa Suwansujarit visited Karachi (Pakistan) on 28 November 2023 to 01 December 2023.

The Thai Ombudsman along with his wife visited the Office of the Ombudsman Sindh on 29 and 30 November, 2023. During the visit he planted a palm tree in the garden of the Office of Ombudsman Sindh and jointly inaugurated the newly constructed block.

At the Office of Provincial Ombudsman Sindh the dignitary was given briefing by the Honourable Ombudsman on the working of the Ombudsman Secretariat besides Registrar POS, Mr. Masood Ishrat also made a power point presentation on the occasion. At the conclusion of the meeting souvenirs were exchanged between the dignitaries.

. The Thai Chief Ombudsman had meetings with Honourable Governor Sindh Mr. Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori and Chief Minister Sindh Mr. Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqar. The Governor Sindh hosted a dinner in the honour of Thai Ombudsman and his wife.

The high point of Thai Ombudsman visit was the signing of MoU at the Chief Minister Secretariat.

At the dinner hosted by the Honourable Ombudsman Sindh at Sindh Govt Officers’ Club (SGOC). Dr. Kaleemullah Lashari made a presentation on “Cultural Heritage of Sindh”

The Thai Ombudsman also visited the Quaid’s Mausoleum, Mohatta Palace Museum, National Museum of Pakistan and Trinity Church. The dignitaries were also entertained with camel ride at the Sea View Beach. The couple thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Mr. Somsak Suwansujarit profusely thanked the Honourable Ombudsman Sindh for the gracious hospitality extended to him and his wife.

– Gunsan-si will purchase a woodchip factory through the farming area overhaul project contest-

An intense conflict between Gunsan-si residents and a woodchip factory, ongoing for over a year, is resolved through mediation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Kim Hong-Il).

On November 21, ACRC Vice Chairperson Kim Tae-Gyu visited the woodchip factory located in Seongsan-myeon, Gunsan-si to inspect the site and formalized the resolution through mediation, inviting town residents, the head of the factory, and the deputy mayor of Gunsan-si.

In November 2022, the factory owner who previously operated a clay brick factory applied for a change in business type to a woodchip factory in Gunsan-si due to shifts in the business environment.

However, residents have continued their rally in front of the city hall, arguing that “the factory, located in the center of the town, will cause environmental damages, such as through producing fine dust, and adversely affect not only residents but also nearby areas of eco-friendly agricultural produce and a large number of people by causing a setback to the support for school meals provided by the integrated center for food support.”

With this regard, in July of this year, Gunsan-si requested ACRC for mediation and arbitration, which was followed by mediated plans as a result of multiple consultations among ACRC and relevant agencies.

According to the mediated plans, both residents and the factory owner related to the necessity of concessions to resolve conflicts, agreed with decision by Gunsan-si applying land and facilities within the premises of the woodchip factory for the “farming area overhaul project contest,” and decided to collaborate mutually for a seamless selection and promotion of the project.

In line with mediated plans, Gunsan-si will finalize its purchase of the woodchip factory by October 15, 2024, if it is chosen for the farming area overhaul project contest. Scope, price, and procedures of the compensation will be in accordance with the guidelines for the project contest.

In the event that the woodchip factory is not selected for the farming area overhaul project contest, Gunsan-si will establish alternative plans for projects serving public interest and purpose by the end of December 2024.

At the same time, the residents have agreed to conclude their rally and demonstrations immediately upon the signing of the mediation.

ACRC Vice Chairperson Kim Tae-Gyu said, “The complaint involved residents, the factory owner, and Gunsan-si, making it challenging to resolve. However, through mutual understanding and concessions among stakeholders, an opportunity for the resolution of the conflict emerged. ACRC will remain committed to protecting the rights and interests of citizens by fostering consensus, engaging in the resolution of intense public conflicts and actively offering alternatives.”

The Commissioner Against Corruption, Chan Tsz King, led a delegation of the CCAC and invited the members of the Monitoring Committee on Discipline of the CCAC Personnel to visit four cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area) namely Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan and Zhuhai together, where they met with the commissions of supervision of Guangdong Province and the four cities.

During the meeting with the Director of the Guangdong Provincial Commission of Supervision, Song Fulong, Chan Tsz King stated that the CCAC of Macao has all along been putting the same efforts to combat corruption. At the same time, it has been striving to disseminate the awareness of integrity to every strata of society and therefore it is planning to carry out the first phase of the Integrity Management Plan for the public sector and integrity education for teenagers. Chan Tsz King also suggested that the Macao enterprises that intend to make investment in the Greater Bay Area might get more information on operating business in compliance with the norms of the Greater Bay area in the future in order to create a healthy business environment.

Song Fulong introduced the integrity building, anti-corruption and internal supervision work carried out by the Guangdong Provincial Commission of Supervision and shared the enforcement experience of pursuing fugitives and recovering assets in recent years. He stressed that he wished to strengthen cooperation with the CCAC together in order to support the building of the Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (the Cooperation Zone) that value integrity.

On the visits to the commissions of supervision of Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan and Zhuhai, views were exchanged on the work of integrity building. The delegation also visited the integrity education bases of the aforesaid cities and the Cooperation Zone, among other places. The CCAC hoped that the visits may deepen its cooperation with the commissions of supervision of the province and cities of the Greater Bay Area and allow the Monitoring Committee on Discipline of the CCAC Personnel to better understand the integrity management culture and internal monitoring mechanisms of the Chinese mainland.

Members of the delegation were the Deputy Commissioner cum Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Ao Ieong Seong, and Advisor, Wong Hio Nam, among others. The President of the Monitoring Committee on Discipline of the CCAC Personnel, Wang Yu, and its four members, Fang Quan, António José Dias Azedo, Tong Kai Chung and Tai Ka Peng, also joined the visit.

The Ombudsman, Ms Winnie Chiu, announced the completion of a direct investigation into the repairs and maintenance of outdoor recreational and sports facilities under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (“LCSD”).

The investigation by the Office of The Ombudsman revealed that LCSD had formulated guidelines regarding its outdoor recreational and sports facilities for instructing frontline staff to regularly inspect the facilities and submit reports on damage as soon as possible so that repairs can be arranged. Nevertheless, between 2017 and 2021, it took LCSD on average two-and-a-half to three months from the day of receiving a damage report to confirm the completion of repairs of the facility in question. Between 2018 and 2022, about a quarter to half of the repair works completed by LCSD contractors involved their failure to complete the repairs by the expected works completion date. Delay in repair works was rather serious.

“As the management authority for a huge number of outdoor recreational and sports facilities, LCSD has a duty to ensure that the facilities are in good condition and arrange for their timely repairs and maintenance so that they can be used by the public safely for a sustained period. The Office’s investigation found that some LCSD frontline staff had failed to discover during day-to-day inspections some prolonged or serious damage in facilities and report them in a timely manner. Furthermore, there are inadequacies and therefore room for improvement in the LCSD’s procedures for arranging repairs for facilities and monitoring contractors’ performance,” Ms Chiu noted.

The Office has made 11 recommendations for improvement to LCSD. For example, it should formulate practice guides and improve the current routine inspection form to assist frontline staff to inspect facilities thoroughly and judge accurately the damage spotted; strengthen facility inspection training for frontline staff to heighten their awareness about implementing temporary safety measures for damaged facilities or cordoning off those facilities; follow up closely on the development of the computer system designed for facility inspection and repair records so that in the future, staff can inspect in real time the relevant records and follow up on the repairs for facilities in a timely manner; review the current term contract arrangement and in the long run explore options that allow more flexible arrangements for facility repairs by contractors; and consider making use of smart technology to facilitate reports of damaged facilities by the public.

LCSD has in general accepted the Office’s recommendations.

The full investigation report has been uploaded to the website of the Office of The Ombudsman for public inspection.

• Wafaqi Mohtasib launches the revamped version of the official website.
• All essential features added in the Urdu language to facilitate general public.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib, Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi has said that the website of the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat (WMS) plays a pivotal role in providing basic information to its users with regard to redressal of their complaints besides enabling them to lodge these complaints online, without having to travel to its Offices.

He was addressing an austere ceremony organized in connection with the launch of the revamped version of the official website of this Office on 27 December 2023. All Senior Officers were present on the occasion while the Heads of Regional Offices attended the event online. The representatives of the National Information Technology Board (NITB) who had helped in developing the website were also present.

He said by using the state-of-the-art technology, the website has been made more efficient, user-friendly, incorporating the necessary contents in Urdu, thereby facilitating those who were earlier facing difficulties in surfing and utilizing the English version of the website. He added that the inclusion of all essential features in the Urdu language shall enhance awareness in the masses about the services being rendered by this institution.

He further observed that all the essential contents including the complaint redressal mechanism, its practices and procedures, special initiatives including the Informal Resolution of Disputes (IRD), Outreach Complaint Resolution (OCR), Khuli Katcheries and alike have been uploaded in the Urdu language. Similarly, the information pertaining to the working of the Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis and the Grievance Commissioner for Children operating under the aegis of the WM Office have been displayed in Urdu on its web pages.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib went on to say that the primary purpose of undertaking this exercise was to provide all necessary information to the website users and visitors, who were residing in the far-flung areas of the country and were unable to visit the Head Office or the Regional Offices. He expressed the confidence that with the launching of this website, all segments of the society would be able to benefit themselves from this facility and would be able to seek redressal of their grievances virtually at their doorstep.

A two-day seminar on “Increasing Access for Asylum Seekers and Stateless Persons to Azerbaijan’s National Judicial System” was organized with the participation of judges, lawyers, legal practitioners, representatives of state institutions, and international legal experts, and supported by the State Migration Service, the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Judicial-Legal Council.

Speaking during the seminar, Turan Jahangirova, the head of the Unit of Work with Martyrs’ Families and Veterans of the Ombudsman Office of Azerbaijan, gave information about the Ombudsman’s activities in promoting and protecting the rights of internally displaced persons, refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons. It was emphasized that collaboration with the ombudsmen and national human rights institutions of other countries has been further expanded in this field.

During the event, an expert of the European Court of Human Rights made presentations related to the court’s practice and precedent law.

Subsequently, participants highlighted the good experiences that the Ombudsman Office, the State Migration Service, and the UNHCR achieved in the identification, documentation and information provision for special vulnerable groups at risk of statelessness through their joint initiatives.

The Office of the Ombudsman of Sindh, Pakistan has revamped its website (www.mohtasibsindh.gov.pk) to make it more user friendly for general public and to provide information and easy access to its services.

It offers users a streamlined experience in browsing and searching for information about this office. Contents updated and illustrated with pictures and has clear menu with easy navigation.

The main features of website are:

1. Our Vision & Mission
2. Our Charter /Sindh Ombudsman Act
3. How to lodge a complaint
4. Online Complaint Registration
5. News and Resources.
6. FAQs

The Akyikatchy Institute (Ombudsman) of the Kyrgyz Republic has launched its new official website – www.ombudsman.kg. Technical support for the website development was provided by the European Union as part of the project “Rule of Law in the Kyrgyz Republic. Phase 2.”

The new official website was developed in collaboration with experts from the European Union project and the Press Service of the Ombudsman Institute.

The website’s design has been updated to be more visually appealing, concise, modern, and user-friendly.

Information is presented in a more structured and understandable manner.

Dzhamilia Dzhamanbaeva, the Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic, noted that the new website provides opportunities for citizens to submit an appeal online

“In particular, the website includes an online reception where applicants can submit their inquiries. There are also numerous sections describing what actions to take in case of violations of various rights.

Separate sections are dedicated to the rights of vulnerable groups. Each section provides a
step-by-step guide on what to do if rights are violated and specifies the rights according to national legislation,” the Ombudsman stated.

The website also features a Questions and Answers (Q&A) section, providing answers to frequently asked questions about the Institute’s activities.

Additionally, the website is presented in a multimedia format. Information about regional offices is displayed on an interactive map of Kyrgyzstan. This presentation format is convenient and easy to comprehend.

The website content is available in three languages: Kyrgyz, English, and Russian, with a version for visually impaired individuals.

The website is mobile-responsive, making it even more user-friendly.