'Focus on mediation won't diminish investigative role'
The new head of the government's watchdog has vowed to focus his office on mediation to resolve disputes and complaints.  Ombudsman Jack Chan on Thursday said mediation is the best way to deal with minor grievances and that it would not diminish the watchdog's investigative role. "This is not going to lessen our role in investigations. The ordinance is there, the law is there and we, under the law, are required to conduct mediation," Chan told reporters.  "And the difference is, for investigation, it's a lengthy process. The result may not be acceptable to the complainant. On the other hand, mediation focuses on mutual agreement. The case is completed with both parties' consent and they have to sign on a written form." Chan, a former under secretary for home affairs, began his five-year tenure on April 1, succeeding Winnie Chiu as the Ombudsman.  He stressed his office values quality over quantity when it comes to launching direct probes, when asked why he only released the first report after being in office for five months.  "I'm quite confident that in the coming year, we'll be able to conduct more or less the same number of direct investigations. I already have many such cases, such operations in hand. It's double digits," Chan said.  "For mediation, my target is as many as possible." Chan noted his office had resolved 153 complaints through mediation in the first five months of this term, compared to 187 in the entire 2023-24 period. Responding to claims by jailed activist Owen Chow about inmates having trouble filing complaints to the watchdog, Chan said there's "absolutely no problem" for prisoners to raise their views.  "We handle such cases regularly and frequently. There's no question of inmates in our correctional institutions having any problem in seeking our assistance," he said.