ICAC vigorously upholds the core value of probity
2014-7-2
In the past year, the ICAC made strenuous efforts to enhance corporate governance and continued to discharge its statutory duty to fight corruption vigorously through the three-pronged approach of law enforcement, systemic prevention and community education, earning the trust and support of the public with hard work.
Tabling the 2013 Annual Report of the ICAC at the Legislative Council (Legco) today (Wednesday), Mr Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, a member of both the Legco and the Advisory Committee on Corruption, said the ICAC, well aware of the high expectations of the comm unity it served, remained committed as a team of graft fighters to discharging its duty diligently, relentlessly and impartially and maintaining the core value of probity.
In 2013, the ICAC received a total of 2,652 corruption complaints –'96 a 33 per cent drop from 2012. Complaints relating to the private sector decreased by 34 per cent to 1,649, while 808 and 195 complaints concerned government departments and public bodies respectively.
“There could be different reasons behind the decrease of corruption complaints. For example, the joint efforts of the ICAC and the Home Affairs Department in enhancing public awareness of corruption prevention in building management in the last three years might account for the 36 per cent decrease of corruption complaints,” Mr Leung said.
Nevertheless, 215 persons were prosecuted in 2013, a 10 per cent increase compared to 2012. The conviction rate remained high in 2013, with the person-based and case-based conviction rates at 78 per cent and 81 per cent respectively.
According to the 2013 ICAC Annual Survey, over 80 per cent of respondents were ready to report any instances of corruption. Using a 0 to 10 point scale, of which 0 represents total rejection and 10 total tolerance of corruption, a mean score of 0.8 was r egistered, reflecting a very low level of tolerance of corruption. Respondents who had experienced corruption dropped to 1.1 per cent from 1.8 per cent the previous year, showing that the corruption situation in Hong Kong was well under control and remain ed stable.
“Despite less corruption complaints, the Commission continues its efforts to maintain a fair, open and clean business environment in Hong Kong with the implementation of all necessary measures against graft,” Mr Leung said.
Besides, the ICAC received a total of 559 complaints under the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance in 2013, a decrease of 77 per cent as compared to the previous year as the last election cycle ended in September 2012.
ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu noted in the Annual Report that 2013 had been a challenging year for the Commission.
“There was high public concern over our regulatory system and practices in the areas of official entertainment, gifts, and duty visits during the term of our former Commissioner…'85 The Commission has reviewed the inadequacies and has taken steps to rectify them,” Mr Peh said.
The ICAC also placed emphasis on staff training. In June last year, the Operations Department launched the “Mentoring Programme”, in which chief investigators counselled assistant investigators and investigators who were within their first five-year service.
As regards corruption prevention, the ICAC completed 68 assignment reports during the year. Areas of studies included public procurement, outsourcing of services, funding schemes, and licensing system, etc. The Corruption Prevention Department also provi ded timely corruption prevention advice to government departments and public bodies on 575 occasions and continued to follow up on issues of public concern, such as construction of public housing, food assistance services (commonly known as “food banks”), the ethical practice of Chinese medicine practitioners and the operation of Chinese medicine clinics.
Besides, tailor-made corruption prevention advice was given to private organisations on 414 occasions. The guide “ Bank on Integrity –'96 A Practical Guide for Bank Managers” and a revised and updated “ Building Maintenance Toolkit” were introduced to minimise the risk of corruption for these sectors.
To enlist public support in the fight against corruption for different strata of society, the Community Relations Department continued to step up anti-corruption education in the past year, especially in advancing youth education.
During the year, the Department spearheaded the “i-Relay” Youth Integrity Project with the support of 17 tertiary education institutions (TEIs) and several youth organisations. A total of 130 “ICAC Ambassadors” from TEIs were recruited to assist in the promotion of the project and an international competition to instill positive values.
The Department launched the “iTeen Leadership Programme” for senior secondary students. Around 100 schools joined the programme and assisted in organising integrity promotion activities on campuses.
The ICAC also organised its first Youth Integrity Micro Film Project to encourage young people to produce micro films to promulgate positive and integrity messages. Outstanding productions were shown at the Youth Integrity Micro Film Festival in December last year.
The Department launched the ICAC Smartphone App last year, which carried the latest news of the Commission, short educational videos and games.
Tabling the 2013 Annual Report of the ICAC at the Legislative Council (Legco) today (Wednesday), Mr Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, a member of both the Legco and the Advisory Committee on Corruption, said the ICAC, well aware of the high expectations of the comm unity it served, remained committed as a team of graft fighters to discharging its duty diligently, relentlessly and impartially and maintaining the core value of probity.
In 2013, the ICAC received a total of 2,652 corruption complaints –'96 a 33 per cent drop from 2012. Complaints relating to the private sector decreased by 34 per cent to 1,649, while 808 and 195 complaints concerned government departments and public bodies respectively.
“There could be different reasons behind the decrease of corruption complaints. For example, the joint efforts of the ICAC and the Home Affairs Department in enhancing public awareness of corruption prevention in building management in the last three years might account for the 36 per cent decrease of corruption complaints,” Mr Leung said.
Nevertheless, 215 persons were prosecuted in 2013, a 10 per cent increase compared to 2012. The conviction rate remained high in 2013, with the person-based and case-based conviction rates at 78 per cent and 81 per cent respectively.
According to the 2013 ICAC Annual Survey, over 80 per cent of respondents were ready to report any instances of corruption. Using a 0 to 10 point scale, of which 0 represents total rejection and 10 total tolerance of corruption, a mean score of 0.8 was r egistered, reflecting a very low level of tolerance of corruption. Respondents who had experienced corruption dropped to 1.1 per cent from 1.8 per cent the previous year, showing that the corruption situation in Hong Kong was well under control and remain ed stable.
“Despite less corruption complaints, the Commission continues its efforts to maintain a fair, open and clean business environment in Hong Kong with the implementation of all necessary measures against graft,” Mr Leung said.
Besides, the ICAC received a total of 559 complaints under the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance in 2013, a decrease of 77 per cent as compared to the previous year as the last election cycle ended in September 2012.
ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu noted in the Annual Report that 2013 had been a challenging year for the Commission.
“There was high public concern over our regulatory system and practices in the areas of official entertainment, gifts, and duty visits during the term of our former Commissioner…'85 The Commission has reviewed the inadequacies and has taken steps to rectify them,” Mr Peh said.
The ICAC also placed emphasis on staff training. In June last year, the Operations Department launched the “Mentoring Programme”, in which chief investigators counselled assistant investigators and investigators who were within their first five-year service.
As regards corruption prevention, the ICAC completed 68 assignment reports during the year. Areas of studies included public procurement, outsourcing of services, funding schemes, and licensing system, etc. The Corruption Prevention Department also provi ded timely corruption prevention advice to government departments and public bodies on 575 occasions and continued to follow up on issues of public concern, such as construction of public housing, food assistance services (commonly known as “food banks”), the ethical practice of Chinese medicine practitioners and the operation of Chinese medicine clinics.
Besides, tailor-made corruption prevention advice was given to private organisations on 414 occasions. The guide “ Bank on Integrity –'96 A Practical Guide for Bank Managers” and a revised and updated “ Building Maintenance Toolkit” were introduced to minimise the risk of corruption for these sectors.
To enlist public support in the fight against corruption for different strata of society, the Community Relations Department continued to step up anti-corruption education in the past year, especially in advancing youth education.
During the year, the Department spearheaded the “i-Relay” Youth Integrity Project with the support of 17 tertiary education institutions (TEIs) and several youth organisations. A total of 130 “ICAC Ambassadors” from TEIs were recruited to assist in the promotion of the project and an international competition to instill positive values.
The Department launched the “iTeen Leadership Programme” for senior secondary students. Around 100 schools joined the programme and assisted in organising integrity promotion activities on campuses.
The ICAC also organised its first Youth Integrity Micro Film Project to encourage young people to produce micro films to promulgate positive and integrity messages. Outstanding productions were shown at the Youth Integrity Micro Film Festival in December last year.
The Department launched the ICAC Smartphone App last year, which carried the latest news of the Commission, short educational videos and games.