HK launches International Ombudsman Academy to boost governance and mediation  

The Office of the Ombudsman officially unveiled the International Ombudsman Academy on Monday, a virtual platform aimed at enhancing training, mediation, and cross-border cooperation among government departments and public organizations—all without additional funding from the government.

The academy, introduced by Ombudsman Jack Chan Jick-chi, will serve as a hub for sharing best practices in public administration and promoting the constructive handling of public complaints. 

It will provide workshops, seminars, and mediation training for the 106 government bodies and public organizations under The Ombudsman Ordinance.

Chan emphasized that the initiative aligns with his reform strategy since taking office—emphasizing mediation, interdepartmental collaboration, and fostering a "positive view of complaints." All work for the academy will be handled by existing staff within current resources.

At the opening ceremony, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki praised the project as a model of efficiency, highlighting that "new missions don’t always require new staff." 

He also reaffirmed the role of public oversight in improving governance and encouraged civil servants to treat complaints as opportunities for improvement.