The Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA) Board of Directors' Meeting 2003 was held in Macao today (20 Oct), with over 20 delegates from eight countries and regions participated.

Secretary for Administration and Justice, Florinda Chan, and Commissioner of Commission Against Corruption, Cheong U, both addressed at the opening ceremony.

In her speech, Secretary Chan said that the Commission Against Corruption had taken on an increasingly decisive role as a mediator between the community and the Civil Service.

She noted that the wider access of the population to the law and a civil service standing closer to the public were priorities of the Macao SAR Government.

Facing with the evolution of the society and the progress of technology, she said, it was increasingly necessary to reinforce the exchange of information and technical cooperation between governments of different countries and regions.

The 2-day meeting gathered delegates from Pakistan, Hong Kong, Korea, China, Japan, Malaysia and Philippines in Macao.

During the meeting, AOA decided to establish a committee to prompt the study on ombudsman system.

AOA would also step up to exchange information between its members.

President of Court of Final Appeal, Sam Hou Fai, Public Prosecutor-General, Ho Chio Meng, and Vice-President of Legislative Assembly, Lau Cheok Va, also attended the meeting.