ICAC remains proactive and effective in fighting corruption
2003-7-2
The ICAC has maintained its investigative capability and effectiveness through restructuring, redeployment of resources and enhanced use of information technology, according to the 2002 ICAC Annual Report.
In 2002, a total of 604 persons were prosecuted by the ICAC in 272 cases, an increase of 20%, compared with the number of cases prosecuted in the previous year. The case-based conviction rate remained high at 83%.
Presenting the report at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday), Legislative Councillor and member of the Advisory Committee on Corruption Sin Chung-kai said despite a marginal drop in the total number of corruption reports received by the ICAC last ye ar, the Commission remained vigilant and proactive in unearthing corruption cases.
Last year, the Commission received 4,371 corruption reports, representing a two per cent drop from the 4,476 reports registered in 2001.
Of the reports received in 2002, complaints concerning the private sector took up a higher proportion, totalling 55% of the overall number of reports received.
The remainder related to the Police, other government departments and public bodies with a share of 13%, 24% and 8% respectively.
“In pursuing its proactive approach, the ICAC has continued to step up liaison with local and overseas law enforcement agencies, as well as the Mainland’s anti-corruption authorities and promoting best practices to minimise corruption opportunities in the public and private sectors,” Mr Sin said.
The 2002 ICAC Annual Report also revealed that the lingering economic downturn continued to expose graft-related fraud cases in the financial and insurance sector, with 215 reports concerning this sector received last year.
To meet these challenges, the Financial Investigation Section of the ICAC had provided expert advice and forensic accountancy support in complex financial investigations, involving more than 390 companies and over 1,400 bogus letter of credit transactions worth $6 billion in total.
On the education front, the ICAC continued its efforts in fostering probity in the civil service, assisting government departments in formulating guidelines on staff conduct and designing integrity training programmes for government employees, Mr Sin note d.
“It has also strengthened its partnership with various industries including banking, insurance, construction, travel, telecommunications and retail, as well as professional bodies and regulatory authorities, to promote good governance and ethical practices .”
Also, as part of its youth moral education campaign, the Commission last year launched Hong Kong's first Web-based Moral Education Resource Centre for teachers.
Mr Sin also said that in 2002, the Commission completed 105 reviews on various aspects of the work of government departments and public bodies with a view to strengthening corruption resistant systems, and offered corruption prevention advice to private o rganizations on 334 occasions.
It has also produced a number of best practice packages to help organisations to develop their corruption prevention capabilities in various areas.
In 2002, a total of 604 persons were prosecuted by the ICAC in 272 cases, an increase of 20%, compared with the number of cases prosecuted in the previous year. The case-based conviction rate remained high at 83%.
Presenting the report at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday), Legislative Councillor and member of the Advisory Committee on Corruption Sin Chung-kai said despite a marginal drop in the total number of corruption reports received by the ICAC last ye ar, the Commission remained vigilant and proactive in unearthing corruption cases.
Last year, the Commission received 4,371 corruption reports, representing a two per cent drop from the 4,476 reports registered in 2001.
Of the reports received in 2002, complaints concerning the private sector took up a higher proportion, totalling 55% of the overall number of reports received.
The remainder related to the Police, other government departments and public bodies with a share of 13%, 24% and 8% respectively.
“In pursuing its proactive approach, the ICAC has continued to step up liaison with local and overseas law enforcement agencies, as well as the Mainland’s anti-corruption authorities and promoting best practices to minimise corruption opportunities in the public and private sectors,” Mr Sin said.
The 2002 ICAC Annual Report also revealed that the lingering economic downturn continued to expose graft-related fraud cases in the financial and insurance sector, with 215 reports concerning this sector received last year.
To meet these challenges, the Financial Investigation Section of the ICAC had provided expert advice and forensic accountancy support in complex financial investigations, involving more than 390 companies and over 1,400 bogus letter of credit transactions worth $6 billion in total.
On the education front, the ICAC continued its efforts in fostering probity in the civil service, assisting government departments in formulating guidelines on staff conduct and designing integrity training programmes for government employees, Mr Sin note d.
“It has also strengthened its partnership with various industries including banking, insurance, construction, travel, telecommunications and retail, as well as professional bodies and regulatory authorities, to promote good governance and ethical practices .”
Also, as part of its youth moral education campaign, the Commission last year launched Hong Kong's first Web-based Moral Education Resource Centre for teachers.
Mr Sin also said that in 2002, the Commission completed 105 reviews on various aspects of the work of government departments and public bodies with a view to strengthening corruption resistant systems, and offered corruption prevention advice to private o rganizations on 334 occasions.
It has also produced a number of best practice packages to help organisations to develop their corruption prevention capabilities in various areas.