First of all, I wish to reiterate once again that the ICAC has every respect for press freedom, and we have absolutely no intention to damage press freedom.

The following statement is issued on behalf of Dr Andrew Chuang Siu-leung, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee:

A Tai Po District Council (DC) member was today (Tuesday) charged by the ICAC for allegedly furnishing false information to the Tai Po District Council in applying for reimbursement of allowances totalling about $30,000.

A man was charged by the ICAC for allegedly fabricating a graft report, accusing the police officers who were investigating a case whereby he was the alleged victim of assault and theft, had accepted bribes for not taking enforcement action.

First of all, I wish to reiterate that the ICAC has every respect for press freedom, and all our investigations are conducted in strict accordance with the law.

An ICAC spokesman today (Sunday) stressed that the ICAC has every respect for freedom of the press.

In response to press enquiries, an ICAC spokesman today (Saturday) confirmed that six persons had been arrested for alleged offences, including conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, perjury and violating the Witness Protection Ordinance.

A Social Security Officer II of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) was today (Tuesday) charged by the ICAC for allegedly deceiving $3,000 from a woman by falsely representing that the money was to offset amounts of Comprehensive Social Security Assistanc e (CSSA) overpaid to her.

A couple, charged by the ICAC for counterfeiting $300 million worth of CD-ROMs and VCDs, was each sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment at the Court of First Instance today (Monday) after a jury returned a guilty verdict.

Two more persons were today (Monday) charged by the ICAC for their alleged involvement in the illegal excavation of rocks from Tung Chung River.