!
23 JUN-1993 15:54
HK GOVERNMENT HOUSE
General
CORRUPTION SCENE HONG KONG
852 521 1868
F.03
Statistics, intelligence, current
and trend studies indicate that there is an need for vigilance
on
corruption.
have increased
indicators increased
Since
mid
1992
by
26%
and the workload
corruption reports Operations Department (investigative division) stands at 1,020 ongoing investigations, an increase of 78 over the past twelve months.
Public perception is that corruption is on the increase and will continue to increase in the years between now and 1997, and possibly beyond. In a recent
recent telephone survey, almost two thirds of the respondents held this view but also believed ICAC would cope with the increase.
2.
The Governor announced in his policy address to the Legislative Council in October 1992 that corruption would continue
continue to be made a high risk crime and that the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong required relentless assault on corruption before and after 1997.
The Public Sector
3.
The number of investigations concerned with allegations against police have increased by 23% over the past year and although this percentage is not matched in other sectors of government, there are worrying intelligence indicators that groups of officers, particularly in the
the disciplined services, are stepping back into corrupt practices not seen in recent years. Recent prosecutions of Customs and Excise and Immigration Officers have highlighted the emergence of some undesirable corrupt practices and investigations into others continue. Recent concern has been expressed by the United Democrats that the ICAC may be unable to cope without additional resources, and the Legislative Council's Finance Committee and Security Panel have in March and May this year expressed similar misgivings. Security Panel members made clear in their questions that they expect an increase in corrupt practices the next few years in the public sector, largely through the payment of bribes by businessmen in the private
sector.
/...