ICAC determined to enhance professionalism and maintain probity in Hong Kong
2013-7-10
With 39 years of proven records, the ICAC’s determination to enhance its professionalism and to maintain Hong Kong’s reputation as a place of probity remained unshaken, the latest Annual Report asserted.
Tabling the ICAC’s 2012 Annual Report at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday), member of the Legislative Council and the Advisory Committee on Corruption Mr Christopher Chung Shu-kun said in the past year, the ICAC continued to carry out its statutory anti-corruption duties vigorously, with the trust and support from the community.
In 2012, a total of 3,932 corruption complaints were received - a two per cent drop from 2011. Among these complaints, 74 per cent were made by complainants who identified themselves while 75 per cent could be further pursued.
Mr Chung said that although corruption complaints against government departments in 2012 had slightly increased by seven per cent to 1,192, there was no sign of a resurgence of syndicated corruption.
He attributed the increase of such complaints to heightened public awareness following extensive media coverage of some ICAC investigations and prosecutions during the year.
While cases involving alleged offences of “misconduct in public office” remained a concern, the anti-graft agency would continue its efforts to remind public officials to avoid conflicts of interest.
Meanwhile, corruption complaints involving public bodies increased 12 per cent to 257 but the number of prosecutions remained relatively low.
As regards the private sector, corruption complaints decreased seven per cent to 2,483 last year. However, the ICAC would pay special attention to corruption issues in trades and industries with wide repercussions on people’s livelihood, including finance and insurance, and catering and entertainment services, Mr Chung pointed out.
In 2012, the Commission received a total of 2,413 complaints concerning suspected breaches of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct Ordinance).
ICAC’s special election taskforce had completed probing a total of 1,604 complaints alleging “vote-rigging” in relation to the 2011 District Council (DC) Election which had raised public concerns.
While 55 persons were prosecuted for voting or related offences in the 2011 DC Election, ICAC investigations did not reveal evidence of rampant vote planting.
In the Annual Report, ICAC Commissioner, Mr Simon Peh Yun-lu, noted that despite the new challenges to be faced by the Commission, ICAC officers were committed to striving for effective law enforcement and a quick response in addressing issues of public c oncern.
On the law enforcement front, the person-based and case-based conviction rates in 2012 were 78 per cent and 84 per cent respectively.
To provide support to investigators dealing with increasingly sophisticated financial fraud cases facilitated by corruption, the Operations Department’s Forensic Accounting Group had conducted examinations of 85 cases in connection with over 21,594 transactions during the year, with an aggregate sum of approximately $4.8 billion.
Meanwhile, the Computer Forensic Section had processed 120 terabytes of data contained in digital devices seized in investigations.
On the preventive front, the Corruption Prevention Department (CPD) had completed 66 assignment reports, covering law enforcement, public procurement, outsourcing of services, public works projects, funding schemes and regulatory systems such as licensing .
During the year, the CPD continued to focus on areas of public concern, such as governance and internal control of tertiary education institutions, national sports associations, testing and certification companies, estate agencies and vehicle examination procedures of designated car testing centres.
Free, confidential and tailor-made corruption prevention advice was given to private organisations on 415 occasions.
To strengthen the culture of probity, the Community Relations Department continued to work in close partnership with various sectors.
During the year, the Department provided integrity training to 21,774 government officers from 74 bureaux and departments to strengthen their understanding of the anti-corruption legislation, heighten their awareness of corruption risks and remind them of the importance of upholding a high standard of integrity. Over 1,000 seminars for about 40,000 managerial and frontline staff members of various trades were also conducted.
To promote positive values among youngsters, the Department garnered the support of all 11 tertiary education institutions in launching the ICAC Ambassador programme during the year.
The Commission also co-organised a cross-boundary anti-corruption animation/comics competition with its counterparts in Guangdong and Macao with over 3,100 entries from young people in the three places.
Mr Peh also stressed that the success of anti-corruption work relied on dedicated ICAC officers. Served by a good mix of new and veteran officers, the anti-graft agency had completed two recruitment exercises in the year, which attracted 12,000 applicati ons, to strengthen its team with new blood.
Tabling the ICAC’s 2012 Annual Report at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday), member of the Legislative Council and the Advisory Committee on Corruption Mr Christopher Chung Shu-kun said in the past year, the ICAC continued to carry out its statutory anti-corruption duties vigorously, with the trust and support from the community.
In 2012, a total of 3,932 corruption complaints were received - a two per cent drop from 2011. Among these complaints, 74 per cent were made by complainants who identified themselves while 75 per cent could be further pursued.
Mr Chung said that although corruption complaints against government departments in 2012 had slightly increased by seven per cent to 1,192, there was no sign of a resurgence of syndicated corruption.
He attributed the increase of such complaints to heightened public awareness following extensive media coverage of some ICAC investigations and prosecutions during the year.
While cases involving alleged offences of “misconduct in public office” remained a concern, the anti-graft agency would continue its efforts to remind public officials to avoid conflicts of interest.
Meanwhile, corruption complaints involving public bodies increased 12 per cent to 257 but the number of prosecutions remained relatively low.
As regards the private sector, corruption complaints decreased seven per cent to 2,483 last year. However, the ICAC would pay special attention to corruption issues in trades and industries with wide repercussions on people’s livelihood, including finance and insurance, and catering and entertainment services, Mr Chung pointed out.
In 2012, the Commission received a total of 2,413 complaints concerning suspected breaches of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct Ordinance).
ICAC’s special election taskforce had completed probing a total of 1,604 complaints alleging “vote-rigging” in relation to the 2011 District Council (DC) Election which had raised public concerns.
While 55 persons were prosecuted for voting or related offences in the 2011 DC Election, ICAC investigations did not reveal evidence of rampant vote planting.
In the Annual Report, ICAC Commissioner, Mr Simon Peh Yun-lu, noted that despite the new challenges to be faced by the Commission, ICAC officers were committed to striving for effective law enforcement and a quick response in addressing issues of public c oncern.
On the law enforcement front, the person-based and case-based conviction rates in 2012 were 78 per cent and 84 per cent respectively.
To provide support to investigators dealing with increasingly sophisticated financial fraud cases facilitated by corruption, the Operations Department’s Forensic Accounting Group had conducted examinations of 85 cases in connection with over 21,594 transactions during the year, with an aggregate sum of approximately $4.8 billion.
Meanwhile, the Computer Forensic Section had processed 120 terabytes of data contained in digital devices seized in investigations.
On the preventive front, the Corruption Prevention Department (CPD) had completed 66 assignment reports, covering law enforcement, public procurement, outsourcing of services, public works projects, funding schemes and regulatory systems such as licensing .
During the year, the CPD continued to focus on areas of public concern, such as governance and internal control of tertiary education institutions, national sports associations, testing and certification companies, estate agencies and vehicle examination procedures of designated car testing centres.
Free, confidential and tailor-made corruption prevention advice was given to private organisations on 415 occasions.
To strengthen the culture of probity, the Community Relations Department continued to work in close partnership with various sectors.
During the year, the Department provided integrity training to 21,774 government officers from 74 bureaux and departments to strengthen their understanding of the anti-corruption legislation, heighten their awareness of corruption risks and remind them of the importance of upholding a high standard of integrity. Over 1,000 seminars for about 40,000 managerial and frontline staff members of various trades were also conducted.
To promote positive values among youngsters, the Department garnered the support of all 11 tertiary education institutions in launching the ICAC Ambassador programme during the year.
The Commission also co-organised a cross-boundary anti-corruption animation/comics competition with its counterparts in Guangdong and Macao with over 3,100 entries from young people in the three places.
Mr Peh also stressed that the success of anti-corruption work relied on dedicated ICAC officers. Served by a good mix of new and veteran officers, the anti-graft agency had completed two recruitment exercises in the year, which attracted 12,000 applicati ons, to strengthen its team with new blood.