Hong Kong’s ombudsman promises to strengthen international relations and use mediation

Hong Kong will step up its international cooperation and use of mediation to handle complaints against the government, the ombudsman said at a first world summit in the city.

A mainland Chinese official at Tuesday’s event also called for respect for different approaches between governments and more exchanges to strengthen administrations’ governance.

Hong Kong Ombudsman Jack Chan Jick-chi said cross-border cooperation offers great opportunities.

“By encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing among other ombudsmen, we can learn from each other and be smarter and more intelligent,” he said in his opening speech at the International Ombudsman Summit.

“I am pleased that after today’s summit we will sign memorandums of understanding with eight other ombudsman organizations from around the world to promote international cooperation. We look forward to our increased collaboration and communication.”

The ombudsman’s office said it would sign the contracts with its counterparts from Ontario in Canada and Hawaii in the United States, as well as South Korea, Indonesia and Slovakia, among others.

The three-day summit, which began on Monday, is being held at the Hong Kong Palace Museum.