ICAC faces greater challenges due to globalisation
2007-12-11
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was facing greater challenges in investigating increasingly sophisticated corruption crimes due to globalisation and rapid technological development, said Mrs Laura Cha, Chairman of the Advisory Committ ee On Corruption (ACOC).
Speaking at an annual press briefing today (Tuesday), Mrs Cha remarked that to brave these challenges, the ICAC must continue to upgrade its professionalism and strengthen its expert teams.
Mrs Cha also noted that transnational and cross-boundary corruption activities presented another challenge to the ICAC. And there was a need for the agency to further strengthen liaison and exchanges with the Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencie s.
She also pointed out that in view of rising public demand on human rights and privacy, the evidence gathering work in ICAC investigations has become more complex and taken a longer time to meet some new statutory requirements.
Co-hosting the press briefing were Dr Andrew Chuang Siu-leung, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee (ORC); Mr Philip Chen Nan-lok, Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC); and Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR).
Dr Chuang pointed out that the total number of corruption reports in the first 11 months of this year increased by 6%, from 3,089 to 3,278, when compared with the same period last year.
Of the 3,278 corruption reports received, 66% concerned the private sector, 27% were against government departments and 7% related to public bodies.
Corruption reports concerning government departments registered a 10% decrease, from 984 to 885.
Despite the drop in reports, Dr Chuang pointed out that some civil servants were involved in abuse of office, impropriety in procurement, lack of due diligence in supervision, undesirable association, illegal gambling and indebtedness, which gave causes f or concern.
In the private sector, building management complaints remained high at 879, accounting for 41% of the total private sector complaints.
Dr Chuang said the ICAC Building Management Task Force had been collaborating with relevant government bureaux and departments, the Housing Society and related professional bodies to coordinate action to fight corruption in this area.
The catering and entertainment services attracted 179 reports in the first 11 months, involving corrupt dealings in accepting goods of inferior quality, and ordering goods at an inflated price and placing unnecessary orders.
Meanwhile, the ICAC has so far received 813 election-related complaints. Dr Chuang noted that various elections held during the year were largely open, fair and clean, with most complaints involving relatively minor and technical breaches.
Dr Chuang also noted that the Administration was considering the ORC’s proposal of including Village Representatives and Rural Committees respectively as “public servants” and “public bodies” under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
On the preventive side, CPAC Chairman Mr Philip Chen remarked that the ICAC continued to proactively respond to issues of public concern, covering a wide range of areas including law enforcement, public procurement, licensing and inspection system, and pu blic works.
He said the ICAC had advised the Government on the implementation of Public Private Partnership projects, such as the Heritage Tourism Project at former Marine Police Headquarters and the Cruise Terminal at Kai Tak.
Mr Chen also said corruption prevention advice was given to the newly established Hong Kong Academy for the Gifted Education, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and two companies set up by the Government to organise the Equestrian Even ts of the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2009 East Asian Games.
On the educational front, CACCR Chairman Dr Moses Cheng said the ICAC had partnered with regulators, professional bodies and major chambers of commerce to organise a training programme to help company directors put ethical governance into practice.
Following a directors’ forum held in September, regular seminars on corporate governance were organised for company directors and a toolkit would be produced to facilitate training.
Collaborating with the Civil Service Bureau, the ICAC established a network of about 150 ethics officers from 80 government bureaux and departments, responsible for overseeing integrity management and promoting ethics in their departments.
Dr Cheng also said in the coming year, the ICAC’s preventive education programmes would target at the catering service industry, financial and insurance sector, small- and medium-sized enterprises, company directors, public organisations and building management bodies. Meanwhile, a clean election prog ramme would be launched for the Legislative Council Election in 2008.
Speaking at an annual press briefing today (Tuesday), Mrs Cha remarked that to brave these challenges, the ICAC must continue to upgrade its professionalism and strengthen its expert teams.
Mrs Cha also noted that transnational and cross-boundary corruption activities presented another challenge to the ICAC. And there was a need for the agency to further strengthen liaison and exchanges with the Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencie s.
She also pointed out that in view of rising public demand on human rights and privacy, the evidence gathering work in ICAC investigations has become more complex and taken a longer time to meet some new statutory requirements.
Co-hosting the press briefing were Dr Andrew Chuang Siu-leung, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee (ORC); Mr Philip Chen Nan-lok, Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC); and Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR).
Dr Chuang pointed out that the total number of corruption reports in the first 11 months of this year increased by 6%, from 3,089 to 3,278, when compared with the same period last year.
Of the 3,278 corruption reports received, 66% concerned the private sector, 27% were against government departments and 7% related to public bodies.
Corruption reports concerning government departments registered a 10% decrease, from 984 to 885.
Despite the drop in reports, Dr Chuang pointed out that some civil servants were involved in abuse of office, impropriety in procurement, lack of due diligence in supervision, undesirable association, illegal gambling and indebtedness, which gave causes f or concern.
In the private sector, building management complaints remained high at 879, accounting for 41% of the total private sector complaints.
Dr Chuang said the ICAC Building Management Task Force had been collaborating with relevant government bureaux and departments, the Housing Society and related professional bodies to coordinate action to fight corruption in this area.
The catering and entertainment services attracted 179 reports in the first 11 months, involving corrupt dealings in accepting goods of inferior quality, and ordering goods at an inflated price and placing unnecessary orders.
Meanwhile, the ICAC has so far received 813 election-related complaints. Dr Chuang noted that various elections held during the year were largely open, fair and clean, with most complaints involving relatively minor and technical breaches.
Dr Chuang also noted that the Administration was considering the ORC’s proposal of including Village Representatives and Rural Committees respectively as “public servants” and “public bodies” under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
On the preventive side, CPAC Chairman Mr Philip Chen remarked that the ICAC continued to proactively respond to issues of public concern, covering a wide range of areas including law enforcement, public procurement, licensing and inspection system, and pu blic works.
He said the ICAC had advised the Government on the implementation of Public Private Partnership projects, such as the Heritage Tourism Project at former Marine Police Headquarters and the Cruise Terminal at Kai Tak.
Mr Chen also said corruption prevention advice was given to the newly established Hong Kong Academy for the Gifted Education, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and two companies set up by the Government to organise the Equestrian Even ts of the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2009 East Asian Games.
On the educational front, CACCR Chairman Dr Moses Cheng said the ICAC had partnered with regulators, professional bodies and major chambers of commerce to organise a training programme to help company directors put ethical governance into practice.
Following a directors’ forum held in September, regular seminars on corporate governance were organised for company directors and a toolkit would be produced to facilitate training.
Collaborating with the Civil Service Bureau, the ICAC established a network of about 150 ethics officers from 80 government bureaux and departments, responsible for overseeing integrity management and promoting ethics in their departments.
Dr Cheng also said in the coming year, the ICAC’s preventive education programmes would target at the catering service industry, financial and insurance sector, small- and medium-sized enterprises, company directors, public organisations and building management bodies. Meanwhile, a clean election prog ramme would be launched for the Legislative Council Election in 2008.