PUBLIC ORDER
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The ICAC is independent of the Civil Service, and the commissioner is directly responsible to the Governor. An Advisory Committee on Corruption, consisting of leading citizens and senior government officials, provides guidance for the commission on policy matters affecting staffing, financial estimates, administration and other aspects of its work. Each of the three functional departments of the commission is also guided by an advisory body with members drawn from various sectors of the community and public service. All complaints against the commission and its staff are handled by an ICAC Complaints Committee, which comprises seven Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils and a law officer. In 1984, 19 complaints were received. They were thoroughly investigated and advice was given by the committee on the action considered necessary.
Operations
The investigation of reports of alleged or suspected offences under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, the ICAC Ordinance and the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance is the responsibility of the Operations Department.
In 1984, the department received 2 365 corruption complaints. Of these, 592 were made by members of the public in person, 946 by telephone and 482 by letter; 203 reports were received from other government departments. Some 63 per cent of the complaints were made by persons prepared to identify themselves, a continuing indication of the confidence placed in the ICAC by the public.
During the year, 410 people were taken to court for corruption and related offences and 329 prosecutions were completed with 209 convictions. The conviction rate on completed cases stood at 64 per cent. At the end of the year, 94 cases were pending trial and 466 investigations were in progress.
On the advice of the Operations Review Committee, reports concerning 240 serving or former government officers were referred to the heads of departments and the Civil Service Branch for consideration of disciplinary or administrative action.
Corruption Prevention
The Corruption Prevention Department reviews and recommends changes to procedures in government departments and public bodies that may give rise to corruption. Its advisory service is also extended to any private organisation or individuals on request.
During 1984, 113 assignment studies were completed, bringing the total since 1974 to 917. These studies are detailed examinations of specific areas of a department's activities, covering policy, law, instructions, work methods and management. Reviewing previous studies and monitoring corruption prevention measures already put into effect continued to be an important aspect of the department's work.
The year also saw the formation of a large number of Corruption Prevention Groups in government departments. Through liaison and discussion at directorate level, these groups provide a co-ordinated approach to corruption prevention studies, with the individual departments actively participating in the identification of corruption-prone areas in their own organisations. By the end of the year, 20 such groups had been established.
Training programmes organised for supervisors in the government and in the private sector continued in 1984. The programmes covered the concept of supervisory account- ability, management's role in corruption prevention, and delegation of responsibility and authority. Training for senior and junior supervisors in the government helped to build corruption prevention measures into government policies and procedures as they evolved.