XN000022-1985-07-24 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 193

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PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN ICAC HIGH

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OF THE CORRUPTION REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (ICAC) IN 1984, 63 PER CENT OF COMPLAINANTS IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES, THE HON SIR ROGER LOBO SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+THIS IS A CONTINUING INDICATION OF THE HIGH LEVEL OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION, HE SAID, WHEN TABLING THE ICAC REPORT FOR LAST YEAR.

HE NOTED THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ICAC, IN HIS REVIEW OF THE REPORT, NOT ONLY LOOKED BACK ON THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION IN THE PAST YEAR BUT ALSO LOOKED AHEAD AND HAD CONFIDENCE THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY A VITAL PART IN SUSTAINING HONG KONG'S WELL-BEING AND STABILITY.

THE REPORT SHOWED THAT THERE HAD BEEN LITTLE CHANGE IN THE PATTERN OF CORRUPT ACTIVITY DURING 1984.

+THERE WAS A MARGINAL RISE IN CORRUPTION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THE COMMISSIONER BELIEVES THAT THIS MAY WELL HAVE BEEN DUE TO ECONOMIC PROBLEMS COMPELLING MANAGEMENT TO REPORT SUSPECTED IRREGULARITIES IN SUCH A WAY WHICH WAS NOT PRACTISED IN EARLIER YEARS WHEN MARKET CONDITIONS WERE MORE FAVOURABLE, SIR ROGER SAID.

THE REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT SUMMARISED THE MORE INTERESTING CASES INVESTIGATED AND PROSECUTED IN 1984 AND IT INCLUDED BANK FRAUD CASES INVOLVING ENQUIRIES INTO LARGE-SCALE FRAUD IN MORE THAN 10 LOCAL BANKS AND CREDIT COMPANIES.

THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT CONTINUED TO EXERCISE AN INFLUENCE ON THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THE EVILS OF CORRUPTION.

ONE OF THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT IN 1984 WAS THE LAUNCHING OF A SPECIAL PROGRAMME FOR BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL GROUPS IN THE FORM OF A +CONFERENCE ON BUSINESS ETHICS+ WHICH WAS HELD JOINTLY WITH THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.

SIR ROGER SAID AMONG THE MAJOR PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES WERE A 13-PART ICAC SPOT SERIES SHOWN IN THE TWO CHINESE TELEVISION STATIONS AND A NEW TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES SHOWN IN MAY AND JUNE THIS YEAR.

ON THE PUBLIC EDUCATION FRONT A TEACHING PROGRAMME ENTITLED +THE WAY AHEAD WAS PUBLISHED AND TARGETTED TO SENIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS.

ANOTHER TEACHING PROGRAMME ENTITLED +LET'S TALK JUSTICE+ WAS IN THE FINAL STAGE OF PREPARATION WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PROMOTING THE CONCEPT OF JUSTICE IN JUNIOR FORMS.

/+TEACHING MATERIALS