PUBLIC ORDER
In youth education, the department continued to cultivate positive values among young people through the mass media and the Internet in addition to classroom talks. In May, the department launched a Hong Kong-wide 'family-based project' featuring a series of parenting seminars and district projects.
To further enhance the transparency of the ICAC, the department revamped the commission's corporate web site in July through enrichment of contents and the provision of new navigation and information searching tools.
International Co-operation
During the year, the ICAC received a total of 313 visitors from law enforcement agencies and other organisations from various countries.
ICAC officers also participated in a number of overseas conferences. A high-level delegation led by the Commissioner attended the 10th International Anti-Corruption Conference held in Prague, Czech Republic, in October. The Commissioner also chaired a workshop on the importance of an honest police force with panel members drawn from law enforcement agencies from various jurisdictions. In November, the Commissioner gave a speech on the importance of cross-jurisdictional efforts against transnational organised crime at the Regional Conference of Attorneys-General of Countries in Asia and Europe held in Guangzhou.
In May, the ICAC's Head of Operations addressed the second Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity in The Hague, Netherlands. The forum was a government-organised meeting aimed at mobilising international efforts against corruption.
Cross-boundary Liaison
Co-operation and mutual assistance between the ICAC and the People's Procuratorates in the Mainland continued to gather momentum in view of closer social and economic ties. Under the Mutual Case Assistance Scheme with the Mainland, ICAC investigators visited the Mainland on 175 occasions and Mainland officers were assisted on 311 occasions in making enquiries in Hong Kong.
During the year, the Community Relations Department also conducted anti- corruption talks for about 6 700 Mainland officials visiting Hong Kong.
Checks and Balances
The operation of the ICAC is subject to a stringent system of checks and balances. Apart from judicial supervision, the commission's work is scrutinised by four advisory committees the Advisory Committee on Corruption, the Operations Review Committee, the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee and the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations.
An independent ICAC Complaints Committee, which comprises members of the Executive and Legislative Councils and other prominent citizens, monitors the handling of complaints against the ICAC and its officers. The ICAC also has an internal investigation group that oversees the conduct of its officers and investigates complaints made against them.
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