XN000022-1994-02-26 — Page 2

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1994

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ICAC REVIEW COMMITTEE SET UP

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) ANNOUNCED THE SETTING UP OF A OF THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE POWERS AND SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (ICAC).

THE NINE-MEMBER COMMITTEE WILL BE CHAIRED BY DR HELMUT SOHMEN, A PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN, WITH PROFESSOR FELICE LIEH MAK, A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AS THE VICE-CHAIRMAN.

OTHER MEMBERS ARE: MR JIMMY MCGREGOR AND MISS CHRISTINE LOH

BARRISTER; MR

CHAIRMAN OF THE SAI KUNG HONG KONG DISTRICT BOARD; AND MR NORMAN YUEN KEE-TONG, A DIRECTOR OF TELECOM.

KUNG-WAI, LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS; MR TONY NEOH, QC, A LEADING

WILLIAM WAN HON-CHEUNG,

THE GOVERNMENT MEMBERS ARE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS AND THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, MR RICHARD HOARE.

THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMITTEE ARE:

* TO REVIEW THE POWERS OF THE ICAC UNDER THE ICAC ORDINANCE,

THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE AND THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE, AND TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR WHETHER THESE POWERS REMAIN APPROPRIATE, NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT.

*

TO REVIEW THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE ICAC IN THE EXERCISE ITS POWERS, INCLUDING THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE EXISTING ICAC ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND ΤΟ ADVISE THE GOVERNOR WHETHER THE PRESENT SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY OR SHOULD BE MODIFIED.

OF

FIVE

ARE

ADEQUATE

*

TO REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR BY DECEMBER 31, 1994.

ANNOUNCING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MRS HAD INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL A MONTH AGO THAT

HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE то CONDUCT A INTENDED TO SET UP A

ICAC AND OF ITS WIDE-RANGING REVIEW OF THE POWERS OF THE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

TODAY,

A

ANSON CHAN, THE GOVERNMENT FULL AND PRESENT

CANNOT OF REACH, BUT I GOVERNMENT ATTACHES

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE ICAC 20TH ANNIVERSARY

CHIEF SECRETARY SAID: "I EXHIBITION EARLIER TODAY, THE

THE COMMITTEE WILL COURSE PREJUDGE WHAT CONCLUSIONS WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASISE THE IMPORTANCE THAT TO ITS WORK.

THE

WEAKENED, INDEPENDENT

NOT "WE BELIEVE THAT THE ICAC WILL BE STRENGTHENED,

ACTIVITIES AND BY AN BY AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF ITS ENDORSEMENT OF THE POWERS THAT IT NEEDS TO DEAL WITH CORRUPTION 20 YEARS AFTER ITS ESTABLISHMENT, SHE SAID.

"

THE SCOURGE OF

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