XN000022-1994-05-11 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1994

INTEGRITY CHECKING OF CIVIL SERVANTS FURTHER EXPLAINED

THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (ICAC) IS BEING ASKED TO CARRY OUT INTEGRITY CHECKING OF CIVIL SERVANTS BECAUSE THE COMMISSION HAS FOR MANY YEARS BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE CHECKS UNDER THE EXISTING SYSTEM AND IT HAS THE RELEVANT EXPERTISE AND MACHINERY TO TAKE UP THE WORK.

"THE ICAC ALSO HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN ENSURING A 'CLEAN' GOVERNMENT INTEGRITY CHECKING IS NO MORE THAN AN EXTENSION OF THEIR CORRUPTION PREVENTION FUNCTION," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA ON SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE'S REPLY TO A LEGCO QUESTION.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IF THE ICAC DID TAKE ON THE OF INTEGRITY CHECKING, IT WOULD ACT ON THE REQUEST OF THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND GRADES AND CO-ORDINATE SOME RECORD CHECKS WITH POLICE FOR THE HIGHER LEVELS OF INTEGRITY CHECKING.

TASK

THE

FOR

"IT WILL ALSO UNDERTAKE, AT THE REQUEST OF THE SECRETARY THE CIVIL SERVICE, INTERVIEWS WITH THE SUBJECT, HIS REFEREES AND SUPERVISING OFFICERS FOR THE EXTENDED CHECKING OF TOP CIVIL SERVANTS.

"THE ICAC WILL REPORT ITS FINDINGS то THE REQUESTING

THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AUTHORITY,

THE

ON THE QUESTION WHY IT IS CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE FOR OPERATIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL FILES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "INTEGRITY CHECKING HAS TO BE CONDUCTED WITH THE FULL CO- OPERATION AND CONSENT OF THE CIVIL SERVANTS.

"DISCLOSING PRIVATE INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUAL CASES ΤΟ AN OUTSIDE BODY WOULD DISCOURAGE CIVIL SERVANTS FROM PROVIDING THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR CHECKING.

"THIS WOULD UNDERMINE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SYSTEM," HE SAID.

FURTHERMORE, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT DECISIONS ON WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE APPOINTED OR PROMOTED IS AN INTERNAL CIVIL SERVICE MATTER WHICH SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.

"AS IT HAPPENS THIS ALSO COINCIDES WITH THE DISBANDment of THE SPECIAL BRANCH WHICH HAS BEEN CONDUCTING THE VETTING PROCESS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVED THAT THE ICAC WAS THE MOST SUITABLE ORGANISATION TO DO THE JOB, IN VIEW THAT ICAC REVIEW COMMITTEE WOULD SHORTLY DELIBERATE ON WHETHER THE COMMISSION SHOULD TAKE ON THE TASK, THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD CONSIDER THE REVIEW COMMITTEE'S VIEWS VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.

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