Opening ceremony and seminar of Hong Kong International Ombudsman Academy, advancing good governance through interactive exchange platform
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The opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Ombudsman Academy (HKIOA), along with a seminar themed "Nurturing a Positive Complaint Culture through Mediation", was held at the Hong Kong Productivity Council today (August 25).
The ceremony was officiated by the Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Chairman of the Legislative Council House Committee, Dr Starry Lee; and the Director-General of the Department of Law of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Liu Chunhua.
In his speech, Mr Chan Kwok-ki stressed the HKSAR Government's endorsement and support for the founding vision of the HKIOA, which not only offers training to government departments and public organisations to enhance public administration, but also serves as an exchange platform with ombudsman institutions worldwide in line with the policy objectives of the current-term Government. Mediation was highlighted as a strategy for dispute resolution, with its growing prominence in fostering a more harmonious and stable society. He also acknowledged the Office of The Ombudsman (Office)'s contributions to promoting excellence in public administration, and encouraged all public officers to embrace a positive complaint culture and contribute to the collective efforts of building a better Hong Kong.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr Jack Chan applauded the establishment of the HKIOA as a new chapter in the Office's efforts to promote good public administration. The initiative aims to create an interactive platform that fosters both internal and external exchange through seminars and workshops, etc. The HKIOA is also positioned to deepen and advance the Office's three strategic focuses: (1) enhancing mediation to resolve public complaints efficiently for win-win results; (2) vigorously fostering interdepartmental collaboration; and (3) promoting a positive complaint culture, which are pursued in response to the motherland's expectations for the HKSAR to stay bold in reform, dare to break new ground, and innovate continuously. The Office has leveraged its internal resources to establish the HKIOA, without seeking additional funding from the Government. All functions are undertaken by existing staff concurrently with their regular duties, showcasing a new approach for "implementing new initiatives without requiring extra manpower". Expressing his gratitude to the Chief Executive for supporting and recognising the Office's work, and to the Chief Secretary for Administration for officiating at the opening ceremony, as well as to government departments and public organisations for their co-operation over the years, Mr Jack Chan appealed to all to support the HKIOA's development, join forces to strengthen the management and efficiency of public services, and demonstrate the will and commitment to promote good governance.
The seminar themed "Nurturing a Positive Complaint Culture through Mediation" was hosted by Assistant Ombudsman Mr Kenny Tang. Guest speakers included the Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), Miss Winnie Chui; the Deputy Commissioner for Transport/Transport Services and Management, Ms Candy Kwok; the Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Michael Hong; and two advisers from the Office. They shared insights and discussed the application of mediation in complaint handling, covering mediation techniques, practical experiences and forward-looking ideas. Over 250 participants attended the seminar, including Legislative Council members and representatives from nearly 100 government departments and public organisations. Valuable perspectives and experiences were actively shared among them during the question-and-answer session.
As the seminar drew to a close, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, offered a thought-provoking summary in his keynote speech. The whole event concluded with a group photo, featuring Mr Jack Chan, Dr Cheung and other distinguished guests.
Ends/Monday, August 25, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:53
Issued at HKT 17:53
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