Corruption kept under control through ICAC's proactive strategy
2002-7-3
The Independent Commission Against Corruption continued to keep corruption under control through a proactive strategy of detection, prevention and community education despite a two percent increase in the number of corruption reports, according to the 200 1 ICAC Annual Report.
Presenting the report at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday), Legislative Councillor and member of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC) Sin Chung-kai said the number of corruption reports received by the ICAC rose from 4,390 in 2000 to 4,476 last year.
The figure was the highest number recorded since ICAC's inception, Sin added.
"On the operational side, as corruption and related crimes are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated, the Operations Department pursued a proactive investigation strategy to unearth corruption," Mr Sin said.
The Commission also has plans to deploy more investigators to the frontline to enhance investigative effectiveness, and continue to strengthen staff training on the latest technological development and skills in fighting corruption.
As regards corruption prevention, Sin noted that from 2000, the Commission adopted a task force approach to provide concerted and focused corruption prevention services to trades and industries considered more vulnerable to corruption.
Taking the Banking Task Force as an example, over 200 internal auditors and compliance officers from over 100 banks operating in Hong Kong had joined the Corruption Prevention Network initiated by the Task Force during the year to facilitate regular excha nges of views and information on various aspects of corruption prevention.
In the period under review, the Corruption Prevention Department completed 105 assignment studies for the public sector. Areas of studies involved government procedures in the outsourcing of services, public procurement, law enforcement, staff and contra ct administration, licensing and regulatory systems, and management of public funds.
Apart from assignment studies, the Department also provided expeditious and timely consultation service in regard to formulation and implementation of new initiatives and policies in the public sector.
The Department continued to provide free and confidential advisory services to private companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises which might not have the experience or capability to handle internal control problems. In 2001, the Department handled 303 requests from such companies.
On the educational front, the Community Relations Department, in collaboration with the Civil Service Bureau (CSB), completed the two-year Civil Service Integrity Programme. The Department would continue to work with CSB in strengthening the probity cult ure in the civil service, Mr Sin noted.
As for the business sector, the Department enlisted co-operation from regulatory bodies and professional associations in heightening the awareness of the need for good corporate governance.
Moreover, the younger generation remained one of Department's priority in its moral education endeavours, making use of multi-media programmes and the Internet to reinforce the probity message, Mr Sin said.
Meanwhile, as disclosed by the ICAC Annual Report, the Commission has started planning for the Commission's second International Symposium to be held in early 2003 for law enforcement agencies around the world to facilitate exchanges on the latest anti-co rruption practices and experiences.
Presenting the report at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday), Legislative Councillor and member of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC) Sin Chung-kai said the number of corruption reports received by the ICAC rose from 4,390 in 2000 to 4,476 last year.
The figure was the highest number recorded since ICAC's inception, Sin added.
"On the operational side, as corruption and related crimes are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated, the Operations Department pursued a proactive investigation strategy to unearth corruption," Mr Sin said.
The Commission also has plans to deploy more investigators to the frontline to enhance investigative effectiveness, and continue to strengthen staff training on the latest technological development and skills in fighting corruption.
As regards corruption prevention, Sin noted that from 2000, the Commission adopted a task force approach to provide concerted and focused corruption prevention services to trades and industries considered more vulnerable to corruption.
Taking the Banking Task Force as an example, over 200 internal auditors and compliance officers from over 100 banks operating in Hong Kong had joined the Corruption Prevention Network initiated by the Task Force during the year to facilitate regular excha nges of views and information on various aspects of corruption prevention.
In the period under review, the Corruption Prevention Department completed 105 assignment studies for the public sector. Areas of studies involved government procedures in the outsourcing of services, public procurement, law enforcement, staff and contra ct administration, licensing and regulatory systems, and management of public funds.
Apart from assignment studies, the Department also provided expeditious and timely consultation service in regard to formulation and implementation of new initiatives and policies in the public sector.
The Department continued to provide free and confidential advisory services to private companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises which might not have the experience or capability to handle internal control problems. In 2001, the Department handled 303 requests from such companies.
On the educational front, the Community Relations Department, in collaboration with the Civil Service Bureau (CSB), completed the two-year Civil Service Integrity Programme. The Department would continue to work with CSB in strengthening the probity cult ure in the civil service, Mr Sin noted.
As for the business sector, the Department enlisted co-operation from regulatory bodies and professional associations in heightening the awareness of the need for good corporate governance.
Moreover, the younger generation remained one of Department's priority in its moral education endeavours, making use of multi-media programmes and the Internet to reinforce the probity message, Mr Sin said.
Meanwhile, as disclosed by the ICAC Annual Report, the Commission has started planning for the Commission's second International Symposium to be held in early 2003 for law enforcement agencies around the world to facilitate exchanges on the latest anti-co rruption practices and experiences.