ICAC continues graft fight with comprehensive approach
2003-12-16
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will continue its comprehensive approach to fight corruption through law enforcement as well as promotion of ethics and compliance systems to sharpen Hong Kong's edge as a clean and competitive internat ional city.
Dr Raymond Ch'ien Kuo-fung, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC), told a media briefing today (Tuesday) that a recently published World Bank report had commended the ICAC for providing a unique example of public-private partnership towa rd corruption.
Noting that the Berlin-based Transparency International had again rated Hong Kong as the second least corrupt place in Asia this year, Dr Ch'ien said the ICAC should take a more active role in sharing its anti-graft experience with other countries.
Dr Ch'ien also noted that in the first 11 months of 2003, the corruption situation remained steady. In terms of cases, the conviction rate remained high at 85 per cent.
Co-hosting the annual media briefing today were Dr Andrew Chuang Siu-leung, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee (ORC); Mr Barry Cheung Chun-yuen, Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC); and Professor Cheng Kai-ming, Chairm an of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR).
ORC Chairman, Dr Chuang, noted that the ICAC received 4,001 corruption reports (excluding election reports) in the first 11 months of 2003. The figure represented a slight decrease of two per cent compared with the same period last year.
Of the 4,001 reports, 43 per cent or 1,716 were related to government departments and public bodies, with the number of complaints against government departments registering a decrease of six per cent. The remaining 57 per cent or 2,285 reports were rela ted to the private sector.
Dr Chuang also disclosed that in the first 11 months of 2003, ORC had referred cases involving 223 government servants to the administration for consideration of disciplinary or administrative action. In the same period of 2002, cases involving 142 gover nment employees had been referred.
He added that Hong Kong had a rather clean civil service, and there was no indication of a resurgence of syndicated corruption.
Dr Chuang also pointed out that the ORC was concerned about undesirable association of a small number of law enforcement officers with elements of organised crime syndicates.
On private sector corruption, the building management sub-sector still commanded the highest number of reports in the first 11 months this year. Of the 855 reports received, the majority of them was of a relatively minor nature, and dealt with expeditiou sly by the Quick Response Team.
Meanwhile, CPAC Chairman, Mr Cheung, pointed out that during the year, a number of areas, such as management of public funding schemes, government outsourcing, direct purchases, construction industry, and the subvented welfare sector, were worthy of ICAC' s attention.
In 2003, out of the 101 detailed assignment studies conducted by the ICAC, more than 30 studies were related to these areas. A series of corruption prevention workshops for the staff concerned, and Best Practice Modules summarizing the common loopholes a nd preventive measures were promulgated, Mr Cheung said.
Looking ahead, Mr Cheung advised that there was a clear need for the ICAC to continue with its corruption prevention efforts in the construction industry and public procurement, which had attracted numerous complaints and cases.
In view of the large amount of public money spent through quasi-government bodies, including statutory bodies, regulatory bodies and subvented organisations, the ICAC would step up corruption prevention work for these organisations, Mr Cheung said.
On the educational front, CACCR Chairman, Professor Cheng, noted that in 2003, the ICAC had incorporated ethics training into the continuous professional development programmes of various regulatory and professional bodies in the fields of accounting, arc hitecture, engineering, surveying, finance and insurance.
In tourism and related industries, an ethics promotion programme, including a trade-wide ethics seminar, a practical guide on ethical management for managers, and a self-learning package for frontline employees, was launched during the year, Professor Che ng said.
To promote clean and effective building management to owners' incorporations in private and public buildings, the Commission had worked closely with the Home Affairs Department and the Housing Department during the year, he said.
The ICAC had worked closely with the Electoral Affairs Commission and the Registration and Electoral Office to promote clean Rural and District Council Elections, Professor Cheng said.
Dr Raymond Ch'ien Kuo-fung, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC), told a media briefing today (Tuesday) that a recently published World Bank report had commended the ICAC for providing a unique example of public-private partnership towa rd corruption.
Noting that the Berlin-based Transparency International had again rated Hong Kong as the second least corrupt place in Asia this year, Dr Ch'ien said the ICAC should take a more active role in sharing its anti-graft experience with other countries.
Dr Ch'ien also noted that in the first 11 months of 2003, the corruption situation remained steady. In terms of cases, the conviction rate remained high at 85 per cent.
Co-hosting the annual media briefing today were Dr Andrew Chuang Siu-leung, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee (ORC); Mr Barry Cheung Chun-yuen, Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC); and Professor Cheng Kai-ming, Chairm an of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR).
ORC Chairman, Dr Chuang, noted that the ICAC received 4,001 corruption reports (excluding election reports) in the first 11 months of 2003. The figure represented a slight decrease of two per cent compared with the same period last year.
Of the 4,001 reports, 43 per cent or 1,716 were related to government departments and public bodies, with the number of complaints against government departments registering a decrease of six per cent. The remaining 57 per cent or 2,285 reports were rela ted to the private sector.
Dr Chuang also disclosed that in the first 11 months of 2003, ORC had referred cases involving 223 government servants to the administration for consideration of disciplinary or administrative action. In the same period of 2002, cases involving 142 gover nment employees had been referred.
He added that Hong Kong had a rather clean civil service, and there was no indication of a resurgence of syndicated corruption.
Dr Chuang also pointed out that the ORC was concerned about undesirable association of a small number of law enforcement officers with elements of organised crime syndicates.
On private sector corruption, the building management sub-sector still commanded the highest number of reports in the first 11 months this year. Of the 855 reports received, the majority of them was of a relatively minor nature, and dealt with expeditiou sly by the Quick Response Team.
Meanwhile, CPAC Chairman, Mr Cheung, pointed out that during the year, a number of areas, such as management of public funding schemes, government outsourcing, direct purchases, construction industry, and the subvented welfare sector, were worthy of ICAC' s attention.
In 2003, out of the 101 detailed assignment studies conducted by the ICAC, more than 30 studies were related to these areas. A series of corruption prevention workshops for the staff concerned, and Best Practice Modules summarizing the common loopholes a nd preventive measures were promulgated, Mr Cheung said.
Looking ahead, Mr Cheung advised that there was a clear need for the ICAC to continue with its corruption prevention efforts in the construction industry and public procurement, which had attracted numerous complaints and cases.
In view of the large amount of public money spent through quasi-government bodies, including statutory bodies, regulatory bodies and subvented organisations, the ICAC would step up corruption prevention work for these organisations, Mr Cheung said.
On the educational front, CACCR Chairman, Professor Cheng, noted that in 2003, the ICAC had incorporated ethics training into the continuous professional development programmes of various regulatory and professional bodies in the fields of accounting, arc hitecture, engineering, surveying, finance and insurance.
In tourism and related industries, an ethics promotion programme, including a trade-wide ethics seminar, a practical guide on ethical management for managers, and a self-learning package for frontline employees, was launched during the year, Professor Che ng said.
To promote clean and effective building management to owners' incorporations in private and public buildings, the Commission had worked closely with the Home Affairs Department and the Housing Department during the year, he said.
The ICAC had worked closely with the Electoral Affairs Commission and the Registration and Electoral Office to promote clean Rural and District Council Elections, Professor Cheng said.