Commission Against Corruption, Macao SAR

The Commissioner Against Corruption, Fong Man Chong, attended the 12^th Conference of the Asian Ombudsman Association held in Tokyo, Japan from 5^th to 8^th December, 2011 and was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA).

The international conference was entitled "Challenges for the Ombudsman in a Changing Socio-Economic Environment", with sub-themes including the role of ombudsman, the right of citizens pertaining to access to information and the prospect of ombudsman development. Commissioner Zhang Huawei (Vice Ministerial Level) of the Ministry of Supervision of China led a delegation to attend the meeting. During the conference, the Commissioner Against Corruption Fong Man Chong delivered a speech entitled "the Citizens' Right to Access to Information under the Legal System of Macao". Some 70 ombudsmen and representatives from 17 countries/regions attended the conference.

The election of new board members and handing-over ceremony also took place during the conference. With the all-out support of the Ministry of Supervision, Macao has resumed its position as a member of the Board of Directors of AOA. Members of the new Board of Directors include the President, Ombudsman of the Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, the Vice President Ms. Panit Nitithanprapas, Ombudsman of Thailand, the Treasurer Ms. Kim Young Ran, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission of South Korea, the Secretary Mr. Alan N. Lai, Ombudsman of Hong Kong. The other five members of the Board include Ms Ma Wen, Minister of Supervision of China, Mr. Fong Man Chong, Commissioner Against Corruption of the Macao SAR, Dr. Tam Weng Wah, Director-General of the Public Complaints Bureau of Malaysia, Mr. Hideo Arai, Director-General of the Administrative Evaluation Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan and Dr. Mostafa Pour Mohammadi, Head of the General Inspection Organization of Iran.

The Asian Ombudsman Association, established in 1996, is a non-governmental organization in Asia. It aims at promoting the role and importance of ombudsman, enhancing the effectiveness of ombudsman and strengthening exchanges and cooperation among regions. The Association is managed by a Board of Directors of nine people, with members from 17 Asian countries and regions. Macao is one of the founding members of the Association.