The Legislative Council
The Legislative Council The Legislative Council

Annual Report 2024



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.

Statistics

No. of new cases received
1 188
No. of cases processed and concluded during the session
1 163
No. of site visits conducted
2
No. of case conferences held with representatives of the Government and/or public organizations
9
No. of telephone enquiries received
1 729
No. of views circulated to Duty Roster Members
3
Photos of site visits

Common cases handled

Some of the more common types of cases dealt with under the Redress System are highlighted below.
Policy bureau/government department
Transport Department
Total no. of cases
265
Types of cases
  • Complaints about bus, minibus and Rehabus feeder services; the parking arrangements for minibuses, coaches and school buses; insufficient motorcycle parking spaces; the proposed increase of taxi and ferry fares; and the temperature and crowdedness in MTR train compartments;
  • Requests for assistance on enhancing the provision of barrier-free facilities for passengers with disabilities; the facilities at bus stops and MTR stations; the regulation of electric wheelchairs; and the combat against the abuse of on-street parking spaces designated for people with disabilities; and
  • Proposals for service adjustments and fare concessions for a number of bus routes; replacement of bus stop signs; enhanced dissemination of bus and train information; provision of road markings, traffic signs and pedestrian crossings to enhance road safety; installation of vehicular traffic light countdown devices; and enhanced provision of e-payment means for public transport to provide greater convenience for passengers.
Follow-up
  • The complaints, requests and proposals were taken up with the Administration in the form of written referral.
Policy bureau/government department
Housing Department
Total no. of cases
43
Types of cases
  • Complaints about the rent increase for public rental housing (“PRH”); the management of PRH estates; the handling of applications for PRH; the lift modernization works at a PRH estate; and slippery floor tiles in PRH estates;
  • Requests for assistance on the recovery of PRH units; enhancing cleansing services for PRH estates; and enhancing the support for PRH tenants suffering from dementia and their carers; and
  • Proposals for abolishing the Harmonious Families Priority Scheme due to abuse of the scheme; revising the transfer arrangements for under-occupation PRH households for optimal use of public housing resources; and enhancing the measures to tackle the abuse of PRH resources.
Follow-up
  • The complaints, requests and proposals were taken up with the Administration in the form of written referral or case conference.
Policy bureau/government department
Environmental Protection Department
Total no. of cases
42
Types of cases
  • Complaints about construction and traffic noise; the location of the recycling bins; and the provision of disposable plastic tableware by a restaurant;
  • Requests for assistance on enhancing the enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Idling (Fixed Penalty) Ordinance (Cap. ‍611); and the regulation of air pollution arising from worshipping activities in temples; and
  • Proposals for improving/shelving the Municipal Solid Waste Charging Scheme; installing more smart recycling bins; enhancing the regulation of plastic packaging; and accelerating the development of waste-to-energy facilities for effective management of municipal solid waste.
Follow-up
  • The complaints, requests and proposals were taken up with the Administration in the form of written referral.
Policy bureau/government department
Security Bureau
Total no. of cases
40
Types of cases
  • Requests for assistance on relaxing the eligibility criteria for Mainland “overage children” of Hong Kong residents to obtain the right of abode in Hong Kong; providing support for single-parent families involving Mainland-Hong Kong marriages; and reviewing the non-refoulement policy against abuse;
  • Proposals for amending the Police Force Ordinance (Cap. 232) to limit police power on arrest; and combining smart identity card, Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, as well as Residence Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents as one identity document to facilitate Hong Kong residents’ travel to and from the Mainland; and
  • Views on the enactment of legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law.
Follow-up
  • The requests and proposals were taken up with the Administration in the form of written referral, while the views were referred to the Bills Committee on Safeguarding National Security Bill for follow-up.
Policy bureau/government department
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
Total no. of cases
39
Types of cases
  • Complaints about staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department; environmental hygiene problems; the operation of unlicensed restaurants; illegal shop front extensions; and unauthorized display of commercial publicity materials;
  • Requests for assistance on relocating a refuse collection point in Yuen Long; collecting cremated ashes; and revising the Food Hygiene Code to accommodate the needs of pet owners; and
  • Proposals for enforcement action against illegal hawking; and enhancing the design of cigarette butt receptacles for better odour reduction.
Follow-up
  • The complaints, requests and proposals were taken up with the Administration in the form of written referral.

Significant cases handled

Provision of parking spaces for commercial vehicles

A deputation sought Members’ assistance on inadequate parking spaces for commercial vehicles and proposed 26 locations territory-wide for providing parking spaces for commercial vehicles to address the high parking demand. Subsequent to the case conference held with Members, the Transport Department, after due consideration of the criteria including road safety, road width and speed limits of the road sections of the proposed sites, undertook to provide parking spaces for commercial vehicles at 18 locations proposed by the deputation to help ease the parking demand.

Installation of Internet Protocol cameras in a rear lane

A complainant sought a Member’s assistance on the environmental hygiene and obstruction problems in the rear lane of a building in Mong Kok. To ascertain the condition of the concerned location, site visits were conducted. During these visits, it was observed that the rear lane was cluttered, which could lead to environmental hygiene problems and create obstructions in the event of a fire, jeopardizing the safety of residents and passers-by. In response to the Member’s call for vigorous enforcement actions against offenders and installation of Internet Protocol (“IP”) cameras in the rear lane for close monitoring and hence deterrence, the Administration undertook to step up patrols and supervision of the hygienic condition of the rear lane, and to install IP cameras there.

Regulation of fee charging by a residential care home for the elderly

A complainant sought a Member’s assistance on the overcharge by a private residential care home for the elderly (“RCHE”) which joined the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme and hence was under the monitoring of the Social Welfare Department (“SWD”). Subsequent to the Member’s referral, SWD issued a sanction letter to the concerned RCHE for its violation of the requirements set out in the service agreement, and the latter took immediate action to revise its schedule of fees and charges. Moreover, SWD undertook to continue to review the existing measures and regulations as needed for enhanced monitoring of the operation of RCHEs.
Introduction
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Introduction
Statistics
Common cases handled
Significant cases handled