Reports removed to ensure accuracy: Ombudsman
The Office of The Ombudsman says old reports may contain information that is "misleading". File photo: RTHK
The Office of The Ombudsman said on Monday that it has removed investigation reports that are 'no longer up to date' from its website, saying that old reports could contain information that misleads the public.
In the statement, the Ombudsman said it reviews content on its website from time to time to ensure its accuracy and relevance, noting "only [reports] from the past three years" are being retained on its website following the latest update.
It said people can apply for information that is not available on its website by completing a form online, email or in writing, starting on Tuesday.
The office added that it had also removed old reports and only retained those from the last decade during its previous website update in 2022.
The 'Code on Access to Information', a category which listed out complaints filed by citizens was also removed from the website.
Writing on social media on Monday, lawmaker Gary Zhang described the move as a step backwards, saying it is a key responsibility of the office to maintain transparency.
'If the Ombudsman relaxes its own standards, this will send the wrong message to officials it monitors. I really don't hope to see this kind of domino effect, which is a step backwards in being transparent and open,' he wrote.
In a letter to Ombudsman Jack Chan, social welfare lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen also expressed concern and requested a thorough explanation.
Tik said the Ombudsman's duty to monitor government departments is based on openness and transparency. He urged the office to restore all removed reports to its website and bring back the 'Code on Access to Information'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
5 hours ago
- RTHK
New uni subsidy rules 'ensure fairness for locals'
New uni subsidy rules 'ensure fairness for locals' Christine Choi says last year over 1,000 students on dependent visas applied for subsidised university places without having lived here. File photo: RTHK Secretary for Education Christine Choi on Saturday said it was necessary to tighten eligibility for subsidised university places for children of non-local talent. Speaking on Commercial Radio, she said the move announced earlier this week by the Education Bureau would ensure fairness for local students and prevent misuse of public funds. Currently, children with dependant visas or entry permits obtained before the age of 18 are considered local students and qualify for subsidised education. However, from the 2028-29 academic year, these students will need to live in Hong Kong for the two years prior to the start of their courses. If they do not meet this requirement, they will have to pay tuition fees like international students. 'We had gathered extensive feedback and studied policies from other countries and regions," she said. "We think that this is necessary to make a more appropriate use of public funds and ensure local students are not disadvantaged when applying for university places or subsidies. "That's why we are making the adjustments,' she said. Choi pointed out that in the 2024-25 academic year, over 1,000 dependant visa students had applied for subsidised places without having lived in Hong Kong, up from about 200 four years ago. She also said the transition period gives non-local talent time to arrange for their children to become full-time students in Hong Kong. Separately James Tang, Secretary General of the University Grants Committee (UGC), said there are high expectations for universities and that they must be held accountable for poor performance. This follows the signing of new University Accountability Agreements between the UGC and eight publicly funded universities. These agreements state that funding may be adjusted in cases of "serious circumstances," such as major governance issues or violations of Hong Kong laws. Speaking on the same programme, Tang emphasised that the new terms are meant to improve transparency in university governance and help the public understand what the UGC expects from higher education institutions.
RTHK
a day ago
- RTHK
'HK can play key role in burgeoning space economy'
'HK can play key role in burgeoning space economy' Professor Alfred Ho calls for collaboration among sectors in developing a space economy in Hong Kong. Photo: RTHK Hong Kong can foster collaboration between different sectors to develop a space economy locally, researchers said. That call came in a report, titled "Soaring into Space: Exploring the Industrial Opportunities of the New Space Economy for Hong Kong", which was jointly released by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and City University. The dean of the university's college of liberal arts and social sciences, Alfred Ho, says Hong Kong's biggest advantages lie in its researchers at different universities that draw talent from the mainland and overseas and being a financial centre and having a good legal system. "I think Hong Kong can lead and also coordinate many forces and interests to participate in the new space economy," the professor said. For instance, the report suggests that Hong Kong fully leverage opportunities presented by the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park to collaborate on resource and research developments. Ho added that since the space economy – which is still in its infancy and can involve the use of space technology by either governments or firms for such purposes as better satellite images for agricultural production – concerns industries from land development to even marine-related economic activities, Hong Kong can play the role of connecting all these sectors. He says institutions and companies are doing research right now individually, but that they need to work together in order to advance the space economy. "We are in a very initial stage, hopefully our report will kick-start some discussion." First released online in January, the report was updated as more places such as the Middle East and the European Union started to invest in the space economy.
RTHK
2 days ago
- RTHK
Govt tightens subsidised higher education eligibility
Govt tightens subsidised higher education eligibility The government says the policy change is not expected to have a significant impact on families with genuine intentions to come to Hong Kong for development. File photo: RTHK A minimum stay of two years in Hong Kong will be mandatory for children of non-local talent to be eligible for subsidised tertiary education places, the government has announced. But the Education Bureau on Thursday said the policy change, which will be in full force in the 2028-29 academic year, is not expected to "have a significant impact on families with genuine intentions to come to Hong Kong for development". Currently, students who first received dependant visas or entry permits when they were under 18 years old can apply for the 15,000 undergraduate programme places funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC). The bureau said it has taken note of recent concerns that "some of these students did not come to reside in Hong Kong but applied for government-subsidised places at UGC-funded universities as local students". This affected the opportunities of locals for university admission and the targeted use of public funds, it added. "The Education Bureau, having regard to overseas practices and the practical situation in Hong Kong, considers it necessary for dependant children to reside in Hong Kong for two years before becoming eligible for government-subsidised post-secondary student places," a government statement said. "Holders of a full-time employment visa or work permit or a visa or entry permit for various admission schemes will no longer be eligible for government-subsidised post-secondary student places." A bureau spokesman said officials took reference from similar policies in England and Singapore, with the former requiring students to be residents for at least three years to be eligible for local university fee levels. Authorities settled on a two-year residency requirement "to find a middle ground", according to the spokesman, who did not elaborate further on the reasons behind the decision. "We will introduce this [policy change] first, then review and monitor the situation. Once we have implemented the policy, we will monitor the applications of dependant students and see whether there are any changes," he said. "We have a mechanism in place for students to adjust their tuition fees from one academic year to the next based on the change in their depends on individual circumstances." To prove that dependant children satisfy the residency requirement, they must either be enrolled as a full-time student in a school for two years before the higher education programme begins, or show that they have not been away from Hong Kong for more than 90 days in each of the two years. The residency requirement for the 2027-28 academic year will be set at one year as a transitional move, before the two-year requirement takes full effect from the 2028-29 year.
