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The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (7 October) presented appreciation letters to staff members from the Home Affairs Department (“HAD”), the Lands Department (“LandsD”), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (“FEHD”), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (“LCSD”), the Civil Engineering and Development Department (“CEDD”) and the Architectural Services Department (“ArchSD”), in recognition of their swift and thorough clearance of unlawfully occupied government land at Woh Chai Hill in Sham Shui Po through interdepartmental collaboration.

The Office of The Ombudsman previously received a complaint that Woh Chai Hill had long been unlawfully occupied by numerous structures, including mahjong rooms, illegal recreational and sports facilities, temporary toilets and other items, which affected environmental hygiene and posed potential safety hazards. Following the Office’s proactive intervention, the six departments collaborated to conduct joint inspections and enforcement operations. Taking the lead in overall coordination, the local District Office of HAD subsequently drew up a comprehensive enforcement plan and worked with relevant departments to devise and implement further operations. LandsD and FEHD carried out multiple enforcement operations, ultimately removing the illegal facilities and items at Woh Chai Hill in phases within a short period of time. LCSD, CEDD and ArchSD promptly followed up by launching an improvement and enhancement programme, and added suitable and safe recreational and sports facilities that comply with regulations for public use in the district, thereby benefiting the community.

To recognise and honour the collaborative efforts and achievements of the six departments, the Office invited the frontline teams and personnel responsible for the enforcement operations and improvement measures to receive appreciation letters. Mr Chan said, “Since taking office, one of my strategic focuses has been to foster interdepartmental collaboration. The successful resolution of this thorny district problem that had persisted for over a decade hinged on the relevant departments joining forces and taking firm and decisive enforcement action. The collaboration among the six departments fully demonstrated the current-term Government’s resolve and capacity to confront challenges head-on, address problems of public concern proactively and effectively, and improve public administration for the betterment of people’s livelihood.”

Mr Chan stressed, “Interdepartmental collaboration, as a cornerstone of the ‘One Government’ concept, is crucial to ensuring efficient and people-oriented public administration and advancing good governance. This aligns closely with the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030), which seeks to strengthen interdepartmental collaboration, supervision and oversight for better public service and governance effectiveness, thereby continually improving people’s well-being.”

Office of The Ombudsman

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