PUBLIC ORDER
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interviews on video tape and 1 566 on audio tape over a 21-month period. The results of the experiment confirmed the many advantages of machine recorded interviews as a reliable record for resolving disputes between defence and prosecution over the admissibility of the interviews as evidence, thus saving court time. Compared with the 12-month period before the experiment started in November 1988, evidence ruled admissible after voir dire or after challenge by the defence during the experiment rose to 58 per cent from 52 per cent. Guilty pleas have also increased proportionally.
The report concluded that the experiment was a success in improving the quality of evidence placed before the courts and the ICAC has now adopted the system as part of its investigations. The report has been circulated to all interested parties in Hong Kong and abroad.
Corruption Prevention
The role of the Corruption Prevention Department, as prescribed by the ICAC Ordinance, is to examine the practices and procedures of government departments and public bodies and to advise how to reduce opportunities for corruption. The department must also respond to requests from private organisations and individuals for such services.
In 1991, the department conducted 82 studies of specific activities within government departments and public bodies. Recommendations were made to plug corruption loopholes by way of improvements and changes in policy, law, procedure, management control and staffing.
Construction and land matters formed a major part of the department's work during the year. The procedures for letting and the administration of various government capital works and maintenance contracts were examined. Advice was provided to government organisations involved in the port and airport development scheme.
The structural safety of buildings and canopies was a matter of public concern and the Buildings Ordinance Office implemented a variety of measures to deal with the problem. The department closely monitored the situation and also reviewed procedures generally within the Buildings Ordinance Office. The Town Planning (Amendment) Ordinance 1991 fundamentally changed Hong Kong's planning legislation. The department studied the implementation of the new controls, such as surveys of land use, granting of planning permission and enforcement of planning regulations.
In line with political developments in Hong Kong, the department worked with the Government Secretariat, the Executive and Legislative Councils, the municipal councils and district boards to standardise guidelines for declarations of conflicts of interests by members of the councils and boards. This assignment will be extended into other areas, in particular to the various advisory committees and boards in the government's consultative machinery.
Following a court case which revealed an unsatisfactory situation within the School Medical Service, the department conducted a thorough review of the service. Other government studies included the licensing of strategic commodities import and export, a review of the Royal Hong Kong Police Commercial Crime Bureau, licensing of hotels and clubs, privatisation of landfills, privatisation of conveyancing of Home Ownership Scheme flats sales, and the monitoring and control of authorised insurance operators.
Government's procurement activities have always been a subject of interest to the department. Purchasing procedures were studied for various government organisations,