Mr Justice Woo shares with graft busters insight into ICSO
2009-11-4
The ICAC held its first in-house seminar on the Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance (ICSO) and related matters yesterday (Tuesday) as part of the Commission’s on-going efforts to seek improvements in its performance in implementing the ICSO.
During the one-day seminar, the Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance (C/ICS), Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, briefed graft busters on the functions and powers of C/ICS as an oversight authority.
Mr Justice Woo noted that as C/ICS, his primary concern was to ensure full compliance by law enforcement agencies with the ICSO in its spirit and letter in the conduct of interception and covert surveillance operations; and to protect citizens’ rights under the ICSO scheme.
At the seminar, he also explained the salient points and key features of the ICSO, highlighting the safeguards provided by the ICSO in regard to the protection of legal professional privileged information.
Mr Justice Woo also shared his observations and findings since the implementation of the ICSO in the past three years and recommended best practices to ICAC officers.
In answering questions raised by investigators arising from different operation scenarios, Mr Justice Woo also shared his views on the application of the relevant legal provisions and the Code of Practice as well as the requirements of the panel judges.
ICAC Commissioner Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming welcomed Mr Justice Woo as the guiding authority in implementing the ICSO regime and ICAC’s business partner in the battle against corruption.
ICAC’s Head of Operations Mr Daniel Li Ming-chak, Director of Investigation (Private Sector) Mr Francis Lee Chun-sang, Acting Director of Investigation (Government Sector) Mr Ricky Yau Shu-chun and assistant directors of the Operations Department were amongst the participants at the seminar.
In his welcoming speech, Dr Tong noted that with the enactment of the ICSO in August 2006 and the establishment of the office of C/ICS, “the public will allow us to continue to conduct telecommunications interception and covert surveillance only if we do so under the monitoring of a credible oversight authority”.
To demonstrate the significance and challenge of the ICSO regime to the ICAC, Dr Tong made reference to the idea of Paradigm Shift, which means a change from one way of thinking to another - a change in the mindset. He saw the ICSO as an agent of change and C/ICS the force steering it.
“The ICSO regime came as a set of new rules. It brings with it much new knowledge to be acquired, new systems to be set up, new procedures to be followed and new requirements to be fulfilled,” Dr Tong said.
The ICAC has introduced improvements to ensure compliance with the ICSO regime. It has revised its internal working procedures and established a computerised system to enhance the control of surveillance devices.
Mr Daniel Li thanked Mr Justice Woo for giving an inspiring and useful presentation on the implementation of the ICSO.
Mr Li said that advice from Mr Justice Woo would help improve the quality of ICAC’s work, its professionalism and further enhance its effectiveness as an anti-corruption agency.
Over 200 ICAC officers, including officers responsible for ensuring compliance with the ICSO requirements and investigators who conduct telecommunications interception and covert surveillance, attended the seminar. They were very enthusiastic in raising questions and seeking advice from Mr Justice Woo.
During the one-day seminar, the Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance (C/ICS), Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, briefed graft busters on the functions and powers of C/ICS as an oversight authority.
Mr Justice Woo noted that as C/ICS, his primary concern was to ensure full compliance by law enforcement agencies with the ICSO in its spirit and letter in the conduct of interception and covert surveillance operations; and to protect citizens’ rights under the ICSO scheme.
At the seminar, he also explained the salient points and key features of the ICSO, highlighting the safeguards provided by the ICSO in regard to the protection of legal professional privileged information.
Mr Justice Woo also shared his observations and findings since the implementation of the ICSO in the past three years and recommended best practices to ICAC officers.
In answering questions raised by investigators arising from different operation scenarios, Mr Justice Woo also shared his views on the application of the relevant legal provisions and the Code of Practice as well as the requirements of the panel judges.
ICAC Commissioner Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming welcomed Mr Justice Woo as the guiding authority in implementing the ICSO regime and ICAC’s business partner in the battle against corruption.
ICAC’s Head of Operations Mr Daniel Li Ming-chak, Director of Investigation (Private Sector) Mr Francis Lee Chun-sang, Acting Director of Investigation (Government Sector) Mr Ricky Yau Shu-chun and assistant directors of the Operations Department were amongst the participants at the seminar.
In his welcoming speech, Dr Tong noted that with the enactment of the ICSO in August 2006 and the establishment of the office of C/ICS, “the public will allow us to continue to conduct telecommunications interception and covert surveillance only if we do so under the monitoring of a credible oversight authority”.
To demonstrate the significance and challenge of the ICSO regime to the ICAC, Dr Tong made reference to the idea of Paradigm Shift, which means a change from one way of thinking to another - a change in the mindset. He saw the ICSO as an agent of change and C/ICS the force steering it.
“The ICSO regime came as a set of new rules. It brings with it much new knowledge to be acquired, new systems to be set up, new procedures to be followed and new requirements to be fulfilled,” Dr Tong said.
The ICAC has introduced improvements to ensure compliance with the ICSO regime. It has revised its internal working procedures and established a computerised system to enhance the control of surveillance devices.
Mr Daniel Li thanked Mr Justice Woo for giving an inspiring and useful presentation on the implementation of the ICSO.
Mr Li said that advice from Mr Justice Woo would help improve the quality of ICAC’s work, its professionalism and further enhance its effectiveness as an anti-corruption agency.
Over 200 ICAC officers, including officers responsible for ensuring compliance with the ICSO requirements and investigators who conduct telecommunications interception and covert surveillance, attended the seminar. They were very enthusiastic in raising questions and seeking advice from Mr Justice Woo.