Hong Kong Hosts Inaugural International Ombudsman Summit Celebrating 35 Years of Administrative Fairness

35th Anniversary Reception of the Office of The Ombudsman celebrates commitment to promoting administrative justice and fairness

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman.

The inaugural International Ombudsman Summit 2024, hosted by the Office of The Ombudsman, Hong Kong, was held today (December 3). The Summit coincided with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Office. To celebrate this important milestone, the 35th Anniversary Reception was also held this evening.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the Closing Ceremony of the Summit and the 35th Anniversary Reception Ceremony. The Deputy Commissioner, National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration, Mr Li Zijun; the Director-General of International Cooperation Department, National Commission of Supervision, Mr Cai Wei; the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Liu Guangyuan; and the Ombudsman of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, Mr Jack Chan, also officiated at the Anniversary Reception Ceremony.

Speaking at the Anniversary Reception, Mr Lee commended the Office for working tirelessly to ensure a fair, efficient and accountable public administration. Furthermore, Mr Lee was pleased to see the Office's global presence, including in the International Ombudsman Institute and the Asian Ombudsman Association and its notable efforts in telling the good stories of Hong Kong under the "one country, two systems" principle.

The 35th Anniversary Reception received an overwhelming response. Apart from around 140 overseas and Mainland participants from about 40 countries from six continents including international ombudsmen, senior officers and international bodies' representatives. About 230 guests, including members of the Executive Council and the Legislative Council, senior government officials, chairpersons of chambers of commerce, and local professionals and academics, have joined the event.

With the belief to further enhance quality public administration, the Office has, at the Anniversary Reception, exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation with representatives from eight countries and regions across five continents, witnessed by the Chief Executive. They include Ontario, Canada, and Hawaii, the US, in North America; Curaçao in South America; Slovakia in Europe; Indonesia, Korea and Macao in Asia; and Zambia in Africa. The signing ceremony was held at noon today at the Summit venue. The First Vice President of the International Ombudsman Institute, Mr Mohamed Benalilou, and the President of the Asian Ombudsman Association, Mr Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, were also present to witness this important moment.

Mr Chan said, "Signing the Memorandum of Understanding can foster professional knowledge and information exchange, build long-term partnerships, and demonstrate Hong Kong's distinctive advantage of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world and our important role as a 'super connector' and 'super value-adder'."

Underscoring the significance of the Summit and the celebration activities to his Office, Ombudsman Chan said, "Thirty-five years ago, the Office of The Ombudsman embarked on a vital mission to promote administrative fairness, accountability, and transparency. Today, we stay committed to our calling and hold steadfast to the core values that have been guiding us to go from strength to strength. We pursue to provide better and more appropriate public services and bring about a stronger sense of happiness and fulfilment among members of the public."

On the day following the Summit and the 35th Anniversary Reception, i.e. December 4 (Wednesday), overseas guests will join an array of social and cultural programmes arranged by the Office, including a visit to the Legislative Council and the City Gallery, the Hong Kong Geopark Tour, city walk in Central and Mid-Levels, Wing Chun wellness workshop, Hong Kong Tram ride and night horse racing entertainment. These activities provide excellent opportunities for them to experience the exceptional charm of Hong Kong and its vitality and vibrancy as a dynamic city.

For more information on the Summit and the anniversary celebration programmes, please visit the dedicated website: www.ios2024.ombudsman.hk.

35th Anniversary Reception of the Office of The Ombudsman celebrates commitment to promoting administrative justice and fairness Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

35th Anniversary Reception of the Office of The Ombudsman celebrates commitment to promoting administrative justice and fairness Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

35th Anniversary Reception of the Office of The Ombudsman celebrates commitment to promoting administrative justice and fairness Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

GREEN@COMMUNITY has taken over recycling service of waste plastics

​The "Pilot Scheme on Collection and Recycling Services of Plastic Recyclable Materials" (Pilot Scheme) of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) concluded yesterday (January 18). The collection service of waste plastics in all 18 districts of Hong Kong has been taken over by the operators of GREEN@COMMUNITY.

A spokesman for the EPD said: "After the conclusion of the Pilot Scheme, the recycling service of plastics has been handed over to the GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling network in the respective districts, and the door-to-door collection service of waste plastics provided by the GREEN@COMMUNITY operators to relevant housing estates has also been successfully extended across the territory. The EPD conducted site inspections across districts yesterday and today (January 19) and found that the situation of plastic recycling of residents and housing estates is in order and the operation of GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling stations is generally smooth. The department did not receive any complaint regarding collection service of waste plastics from the relevant housing estates, nor were there any cases observed of certain types of waste plastics not being collected or left unattended. The EPD will continue to monitor the situation."

"After the taking over of waste plastic collection services by GREEN@COMMUNITY, the operators may pass the collected plastics freely to any EPD-approved recyclers for handling, from merely the three designated recyclers under the Pilot Scheme to the current 10 downstream recyclers for processing. The EPD is expediting the approval process and will gradually add more qualified downstream recyclers to the list, further opening up market competition to reduce the cost of collection and recycling of waste plastics," the spokesman added.

The EPD stressed that it will strive to ensure that the plastic collection services for housing estates will remain unaffected after the conclusion of the Pilot Scheme. GREEN@COMMUNITY operators will continue to liaise with the housing estates for more flexible collection services for plastics, as well as other recyclables, with a view to enhancing the cost-effectiveness.

The EPD will continue to strengthen collaboration with GREEN@COMMUNITY operators, downstream recyclers, and relevant housing estates to provide the required plastic recycling services, ensuring that the recycling situation of residents and housing estates remains as usual. The EPD will also step up monitoring of the work of downstream recyclers, including conducting more frequent spot checks, to ensure that all collected waste plastics are properly processed and converted from waste into valuable resources.