Introduction
The Legislative Council operates a
Redress System to receive and handle complaints from individual members of the public and deputations who are aggrieved by government actions or policies. It also deals with public representations on government policies and legislation, as well as other matters of public concern.
Members take turns, in groups of nine, to be on duty each week to oversee the Redress System, and to receive and handle representations of and complaints made by deputations. During their duty week, Members also take turns to undertake “ward duty” during which they meet with individual members of the public and provide guidance to staff on the processing of cases.
Duty Roster Members interview with a deputation
Photos of site visits
Significant cases handled
Provision of an inclined lift
A deputation sought Members’ assistance on the provision of an inclined lift to facilitate access of the residents of a public housing estate, especially the elderly who represented 30% of the tenant population, to and from the market, transportation and leisure facilities downhill. In response to Members’ urge for acceding to the deputation’s request so as to be in line with the Government’s advocacy of promoting the quality of life of the elderly population, and subsequent to a site visit conducted with Members, the Administration undertook to favourably consider the deputation’s request and to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed construction, which would likely be completed by mid-2023.
Regulation of the use of electric scooters
A complainant sought a Member’s assistance on the safety threats posed by the use of electric scooters on footpaths to pedestrians, particularly the visually-impaired, and hence the call for regulation. In response to the Member’s referral and the urge for protection of pedestrian safety, the Administration undertook to examine issues related to proper regulation of the use of electric mobility devices, including electric scooters, and to step up publicity to enhance public awareness of the prohibited use of electric mobility devices on footpaths under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374).
Excessive packaging
A complainant sought a Member’s assistance on the environmental problems caused by excessive packaging of products purchased online. Sharing the complainant’s concern over the negative environmental impact caused by excessive packaging, the Member called on the Administration to tackle the problem. Apart from liaising with the concerned online shopping platform operators to encourage them to adopt simple packaging and to recycle packaging materials, the Environmental Protection Department undertook to join forces with trade practitioners and other government departments to promote simple packaging, and encourage green business and consumption through publicity and education. It would, in addition to the supermarkets and grocery stores sector which had already been issued with the Practical Guide on Packaging Reduction And Management, issue practical guides to other sectors for reference.