ICAC to cope with complex cases and high caseload
2002-1-18
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will restructure its investigation teams and make wider use of information technology (IT) to cope with a growing investigation caseload and increasing complexity of corruption cases.
As at end of 2001, ICAC's caseload has reached an unprecedented level of 1,861, a 59 per cent increase over that recorded in 1997.
Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC) Dr Raymond Ch'ien Kuo-fung told a media briefing today (Friday) that the lingering effect of the Asian financial crisis and the impact of the global economic situation on Hong Kong had exposed many c orruption-related frauds.
"To cope with growing caseloads and increasing sophistication in corruption offences, the ACOC supported the Commission's initiative to restructure its investigative team."
Co-hosting the annual media briefing today were Chairman of the Operations Review Committee (ORC) Anna Wu Hung-yuk; Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC) Barry Cheung Chun-yuen; and Convenor of the Public Education Sub-Committee of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR) Paul Chan Kam-cheung.
Dr Ch'ien disclosed that the ICAC's Operations Department would be seeking resources to install a secure electronic submission network system to facilitate future electronic reporting, while an information technology management unit would be set up to coo rdinate the development and management of IT systems within the Commission.
Meanwhile, Ms Wu of ORC pointed out that the continuing upsurge in corruption reports since the 1997 Asian financial downturn was mainly attributable to an increase in private sector corruption reports.
Of the 4,476 corruption reports (excluding election reports) received last year, 57 per cent or 2,542 reports were related to the private sector, representing an increase of six per cent and 62 per cent over 2000 and 1997 respectively.
Last year's report figure represented a two per cent increase over 2000, with the number of complaints against all Government departments registering an overall decline of eight per cent. The Police force alone recorded a drop of 15 per cent in complaints .
Regarding the civil service, Ms Wu noted that there was no indication of resurgence of syndicated corruption in government departments.
However, she said the ORC was concerned about some cases of government officers allegedly involved in malfeasance and the committee supported unanimously the ICAC's proposal to statutorise the Common Law offence of misconduct in public office.
At today's briefing, it was also disclosed that last year, ORC had referred 85 cases involving 188 government employees to various departments for consideration of disciplinary and administrative action. In 2000, 295 government employees were referred.
On private sector corruption cases, the advisory committees were concerned about the large number of reports related to building management.
In 2001, some 700 corruption reports relating to building management were received, with the majority being minor complaints expeditiously dealt with by the Quick Response Team.
On the same subject, Mr Cheung of CPAC said the Corruption Prevention Department (CPD) had been developing a set of guidelines and a tender evaluation system for the Housing Department in outsourcing public estate management to private companies.
In 2001, the CPD had also reviewed the management of two government funds for improving the quality of education and language proficiency, and issued best practice packages on procurement and staff administration to subvented social service organisations.
The advisory committees also expressed concerns at the rise in corruption reports in the construction and finance sub-sectors. The committees noted that such cases often involved a large number of witnesses and suspects and demanded long investigation.
In the past year, Mr Cheung said CPD had completed a number of corruption prevention studies on the administration of public works projects and recommended that consultants and contractors working for the Housing Authority and the works departments be req uired to demonstrate their commitment to ethical practices.
According to Mr Cheung, the department will also discuss with tertiary and construction training institutions to include professional ethics as a subject in construction-related courses and encourage professional bodies to incorporate ethics training in t heir professional development programmes.
Meanwhile, Mr Chan of CACCR welcomed the Community Relations Department (CRD)'s proactive strategy in developing partnership with regulatory and professional bodies to promote ethical practices in the banking and insurance industries.
Mr Chan also noted that the ICAC had made effective use of the Internet to enhance the transparency of the Commission's work. The revamped ICAC's corporate website provides updated information on major ICAC operations and completed court cases for public access.
Since the revamp of the website in July last year, over 16 million hits were recorded.
As at end of 2001, ICAC's caseload has reached an unprecedented level of 1,861, a 59 per cent increase over that recorded in 1997.
Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC) Dr Raymond Ch'ien Kuo-fung told a media briefing today (Friday) that the lingering effect of the Asian financial crisis and the impact of the global economic situation on Hong Kong had exposed many c orruption-related frauds.
"To cope with growing caseloads and increasing sophistication in corruption offences, the ACOC supported the Commission's initiative to restructure its investigative team."
Co-hosting the annual media briefing today were Chairman of the Operations Review Committee (ORC) Anna Wu Hung-yuk; Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC) Barry Cheung Chun-yuen; and Convenor of the Public Education Sub-Committee of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR) Paul Chan Kam-cheung.
Dr Ch'ien disclosed that the ICAC's Operations Department would be seeking resources to install a secure electronic submission network system to facilitate future electronic reporting, while an information technology management unit would be set up to coo rdinate the development and management of IT systems within the Commission.
Meanwhile, Ms Wu of ORC pointed out that the continuing upsurge in corruption reports since the 1997 Asian financial downturn was mainly attributable to an increase in private sector corruption reports.
Of the 4,476 corruption reports (excluding election reports) received last year, 57 per cent or 2,542 reports were related to the private sector, representing an increase of six per cent and 62 per cent over 2000 and 1997 respectively.
Last year's report figure represented a two per cent increase over 2000, with the number of complaints against all Government departments registering an overall decline of eight per cent. The Police force alone recorded a drop of 15 per cent in complaints .
Regarding the civil service, Ms Wu noted that there was no indication of resurgence of syndicated corruption in government departments.
However, she said the ORC was concerned about some cases of government officers allegedly involved in malfeasance and the committee supported unanimously the ICAC's proposal to statutorise the Common Law offence of misconduct in public office.
At today's briefing, it was also disclosed that last year, ORC had referred 85 cases involving 188 government employees to various departments for consideration of disciplinary and administrative action. In 2000, 295 government employees were referred.
On private sector corruption cases, the advisory committees were concerned about the large number of reports related to building management.
In 2001, some 700 corruption reports relating to building management were received, with the majority being minor complaints expeditiously dealt with by the Quick Response Team.
On the same subject, Mr Cheung of CPAC said the Corruption Prevention Department (CPD) had been developing a set of guidelines and a tender evaluation system for the Housing Department in outsourcing public estate management to private companies.
In 2001, the CPD had also reviewed the management of two government funds for improving the quality of education and language proficiency, and issued best practice packages on procurement and staff administration to subvented social service organisations.
The advisory committees also expressed concerns at the rise in corruption reports in the construction and finance sub-sectors. The committees noted that such cases often involved a large number of witnesses and suspects and demanded long investigation.
In the past year, Mr Cheung said CPD had completed a number of corruption prevention studies on the administration of public works projects and recommended that consultants and contractors working for the Housing Authority and the works departments be req uired to demonstrate their commitment to ethical practices.
According to Mr Cheung, the department will also discuss with tertiary and construction training institutions to include professional ethics as a subject in construction-related courses and encourage professional bodies to incorporate ethics training in t heir professional development programmes.
Meanwhile, Mr Chan of CACCR welcomed the Community Relations Department (CRD)'s proactive strategy in developing partnership with regulatory and professional bodies to promote ethical practices in the banking and insurance industries.
Mr Chan also noted that the ICAC had made effective use of the Internet to enhance the transparency of the Commission's work. The revamped ICAC's corporate website provides updated information on major ICAC operations and completed court cases for public access.
Since the revamp of the website in July last year, over 16 million hits were recorded.