Corruption reports remained stable as a result of ICAC's comprehensive anti-graft strategy despite changes in the economic situation, said Mrs Laura Cha, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC), today (Tuesday).

Speaking at a press briefing today (Tuesday), Mrs Cha noted that while the global financial crisis had not brought about a drastic increase in corruption reports in 2009, the ICAC should nonetheless remain vigilant in view of challenges posed by the unstable economy and increased cross-boundary businesses.

In 2009, the ICAC received a total of 3,450 corruption reports, representing a slight increase of two per cent when compared with 3,377 reports in 2008, but the number of pursuable reports has dropped by three per cent.

Amongst the corruption reports, 63 per cent or 2,183 reports concerned the private sector; 31 per cent or 1,061 reports related to government departments; and six per cent or 206 reports were against public bodies.

Of the 174 completed prosecutions, 148 resulted in convictions, registering a conviction rate of 85 per cent.

Mrs Cha noted that the ICAC was heading in the right direction in intensifying its drive on international co-operation in the light of increased globalization of corruption crimes.

The Fourth ICAC Symposium jointly organized by the ICAC and the Anti-Fraud Office of the European Commission in December last year hence provided a platform for law enforcers and professionals worldwide to exchange views on corporate corruption, while the Centre of Anti-Corruption Studies, established in April last year, aims to strengthen international exchanges.

Joining Mrs Cha at the annual press conference to review their work were chairpersons/representatives of three other advisory committees - Operations Review Committee (ORC), Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC) and Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR).

ORC Chairman Mr Michael Sze Cho-cheung noted that the growing sophistication of corrupt activities and the lengthy trials had posed many challenges to the Operations Department.

While graft reports against government departments increased 11 per cent on a year-on-year basis to 1,061, the number of pursuable reports only increased four per cent.

Mr Sze noted that the civil service remained clean and there was no sign of revival of syndicated corruption. The number of civil servants referred to bureaux or departments for consideration of disciplinary or administrative action reduced substantively to 66 from 105.

Mr Sze noted that the ORC was concerned about the inadequate guidelines and lax supervision over certain government funding schemes as well as improprieties relating to government outsourcing.

In the private sector, the building management sector continued to take up the biggest share - 42 per cent or 924 reports, followed by the catering and entertainment services sector with 154 reports, and the financial and insurance industry with 147 reports.

Mr Sze said the ICAC would keep a close eye on potential corruption risks arising from the government's "Operation Building Bright" scheme.

The ORC was also concerned about corruption-facilitated commercial frauds involving listed companies as well as the illegal kickback problem within the catering and entertaining services industry.

Mr Sze advised the ICAC to continue to solicit support from stakeholders and tackle the problems from both the enforcement and preventive fronts.

In 2009, 221 election-related reports were received, of which 210 were capable of investigation. Mr Sze noted that most of these reports were referred by the Registration and Electoral Office and concerned relatively minor and technical breaches of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO) and involved irregularities relating to insignificant amounts of election expenses.

The ORC was concerned that the situation might have a resource implication on the ICAC. The committee had proposed to the government to review the existing arrangement and consider if election complaints alleging technical and minor breaches of the ECICO could be dealt with by alternative means, for example, administrative action.

Meanwhile, CPAC Acting Chairman Dr Anissa Chan Wong Lai-kuen reported that the committee had considered 80 studies conducted by the Corruption Prevention Department (CPD) on a wide-range of issues of public concerns.

She noted that during the year, the CPD had produced a Best Practice Checklist on Management of Charities and Fund-Raising Activities to help charitable organisations enhance governance and internal control. The checklist has been disseminated to over 6,000 tax-exempted charitable organisations.

Dr Chan also noted that the CPD had conducted a research study on the sale of residential properties and recommended the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong to consider adopting appropriate measures to ensure that members of the public do have access to clear and timely sales information, including the price list, floor and number of units put up for sale.

The CPD had also recommended that the Estate Agents Authority should incorporate into their publications examples of common misconduct and malpractice by estate agents to enhance the awareness of the vendors or buyers.

On the education front, CACCR's former chairman, Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi, endorsed the Community Relations Department (CRD)'s unrelenting efforts in assisting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in strengthening business ethics.

The CACCR also endorsed CRD's efforts in instilling morality in young people, including a regional ethics programme for local, Mainland and overseas university students; an "ICAC Ambassador Programme for Senior Secondary Students"; and a moral education seminar to foster collaboration amongst teachers and youth workers.

Meanwhile, the ICAC Investigators 2009 TV drama series, which recorded an average of 1.37 million viewers for each episode when broadcast in September, was for the first time telecast by the China Central Television at the end of last year.