PUBLIC ORDER
330
Investigation
In 2000, the Operations Department continued its proactive strategy in fighting corruption by developing closer links with the Government's disciplined services and departments through Operational Liaison Groups. Liaison channels have also been established with other regulatory bodies and key industries.
Major investigations in the year included a series of cases alleging short piling or sub-standard construction work at building sites, letters of credit fraud, bookmaking on horse racing, and suspected corruption offences involving some senior staff in a government department. The year also saw the conviction of the last defendant in the Carrian corruption-facilitated fraud case, bringing to an end the commission's 17- year investigation into the complex commercial crimes.
During the year, 608 persons were prosecuted and 94 cautioned for minor offences. The Operations Department's caseload, growing in magnitude and complexity, stood at 1 855 by the end of the year.
The department has enhanced its procedures in dealing with documentary exhibits, and established a more effective case management system through an internal on-line mechanism. To strengthen its investigative capability in dealing with increasingly sophisticated graft-related fraud cases, the department has further upgraded its information technology facilities.
Prevention
The Corruption Prevention Department continued to examine the practices and procedures of government departments and public bodies in order to identify corruption loopholes, and secure the revision of work methods to reduce the potential for graft.
During the year, the department produced 106 detailed reports relating to various work areas in the public sector. Priority was given to following up on Operations Department's investigations to identify and plug corruption loopholes. Studies focused on procedures relating to licensing, staff administration, law enforcement, construction systems and public procurement. The department also provided tailor- made corruption prevention advice, through 278 consultation exercises, to the public sector concerning formulation of legislation, policies and procedures.
For the private sector, corruption prevention advice was offered to various companies on 300 occasions, and special efforts were made to raise awareness of corruption prevention in the construction industry. The department continued to produce user-friendly 'best practice' guidelines for the private sector to bolster their internal control systems. Two of them concerned procurement procedures and staff administration in aided schools.
Education
The Community Relations Department continued to educate the public against the evils of corruption and enlist their support for the commission's work through media publicity and its network of eight Regional Offices.
Enhancing the integrity of civil servants remained a top priority. Besides working closely with the Civil Service Bureau in implementing the second phase of the Civil Service Integrity Programme, the department published jointly with the bureau a guidebook on corruption prevention for senior managers. A half-yearly newsletter,
Page 390Page 391