XN000022-1996-10-30 — Page 45

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Measures to maintain an honest civil service

Following is a question by Dr the Hon David Li Kwok-po and a written reply by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr W K Lam, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

According to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the number of corruption reports made against civil servants in the first nine months of the year has risen by 10 percent as compared with that in the same period last year. Will the Government inform this Council of the reasons for the increase and how it plans to stamp out corruption in the civil service!

Answer:

Mr President.

The number of corruption reports submitted to the ICAC has fluctuated in the last five years. In the same period, the number of corruption reports against civil servants has also fluctuated, ranging from 978 in 1991 to 1,381 in 1994. as shown below:

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

Total number of corruption reports received

2.411

2,276

3,284

3,601

3,234

Number of corruption

978

1.032

1,365

1.381

1,248

reports against civil servants

The number of corruption reports filed against civil servants in the first nine months of 1996 is 962 out of a total of 2,317 reports received by the ICAC. We would not wish to speculate on the reasons for changes in the number of corruption reports against civil servants.

The Government is not complacent and is determined to stamp out corruption in the civil service through education, training, prevention and enforcement. All civil service recruits on appointment are briefed on corruption prevention matters and are provided with copies of the guidelines and rules derived from the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and the Acceptance of Advantages (Governor's Permission) Notice. Their attention is also drawn to the relevant Civil Service Regulations which provide clear guidelines and impose specific requirements to help civil servants avoid conflict of interest between their official duties and private interests including investments.