WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1989
23
ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION IN PRIVATE SECTOR INCREASE
ΤΟ
ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAVE CONTINUED INCREASE AND THEY NOW ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT HALF OF ALL THE ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING CORRUPTION RECEIVED BY THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (ICAC).
DR THE HON DANIEL TSE SAID THIS WHEN TABLING THE 1988 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ICAC IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
NOTING THAT CASES INVOLVING CORRUPTION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WERE COMPLEX, DR TSE SAID THE INVESTIGATIONS MADE BY THE ICAC'S OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT OFTEN TOOK CONSIDERABLE TIME TO COMPLETE, THUS CONTRIBUTING ΤΟ THE HIGH CASELOAD WHICH THE DEPARTMENT CARRIED FORWARD FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
MEANWHILE, HE SAID, THERE HAD BEEN A DECLINE OF TWO PER CENT IN THE NUMBER OF CORRUPTION REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE ICAC IN 1988 OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THIS SHOWED THAT THE HEALTHY TREND OF PREVIOUS YEARS, WITH A STEADILY REDUCING NUMBER OF REPORTS INVOLVING GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND PUBLIC BODIES, HAD CONTINUED.
DR TSE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS THAT PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES MADE TO THE CORRUPTION PREVENTION DEPARTMENT OF THE ICAC FOR ADVICE ON ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES HAD INCREASED BY 44 PER CENT DURING THE YEAR.
HE BELIEVED THAT THE TRENDS IN RESPECT OF THE - PRIVATE SECTOR REFLECTED THE SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS OF THE ICAC'S COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, WHICH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AGAINST CORRUPTION, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REPORT THEIR SUSPICIONS TO THE ICAC, RATHER THAN AN INDICATION OF MORE CORRUPT ACTIVITY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
'CAVEAT EMPTOR' APPLIES
THE GOVERNMENT NEITHER ENCOURAGES NOR DISCOURAGES EMIGRATION CONSULTANTS SETTING UP BUSINESS IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON PETER TSAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
NOR DID THE GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGE OR DISCOURAGE HONG KONG PEOPLE FROM USING THEIR SERVICES, MR TSAO SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER WONG.
/MR WONG