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7.
As stated above, the main purpose of an investigation is to identify practices and procedures, and sometimes policies, which may be conducive to corruption and to make recommendations for the elimination or reduction of the opportunities for corruption. Before proposals to lessen these opportunities are framed, discussions will occur between staff of the client department and the Corruption Prevention Department. Thereafter, a formal report will be sent to the client department setting out the corruption opportunities and making recommendations for reducing or eliminating them. The client department should send a copy of this report to the Secretariat Branch Secretary or Secretaries concerned for information if important matters of policy are involved or if thought desirable for other reasons.
8.
If the report is accepted by the client department, the latter then becomes responsible for making sure that it is implemented within a reasonable period (say 2 months) and for notifying the Commissioner I.C.A.C. and, if necessary, the Branch Secretary concerned when this has been done. If it is not accepted, discussions will take place at a senior directorate level between the client department and the Corruption Prevention Department with a view to reaching an arrangement satisfactory to both. In the unlikely event of the client department and the Corruption Prevention Department failing to reach agreement over any particular aspect of a corruption prevention investigation, the Branch Secretary concerned or, if need be, the Colonial Secretary will be consulted.
9.
The Corruption Prevention Department works to a Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee, which keeps a close watch by way of monthly progress reports, on all investigations, from their inception to final acceptance and implementation. After implementation, the Corruption Prevention Department will monitor periodically to assess the effectiveness of the changes introduced.
10.
It must be emphasized that the prevention of corruption is ultimately a management responsibility and that positive management methods are preferred to negative preventive measures. Heads of Departments are therefore urged to welcome the Corruption Prevention Department, as an aid to the better management of those areas of public administration which offer opportunities for corrupt practice.
11.
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In general, it can be said that the elimination of corruption will enable a department more effectively to implement its policies which otherwise
liable to become eroded, blunted or delayed and thus to obtain better value for public funds. On the other hand, the Corruption Prevention Department is well aware that some of the more obvious corruption safeguards may sometimes slow down the conduct of government business, but this may be unavoidable if corruption is to be reduced.
12.
The Commissioner of the I.C.A.C. and senior officers of the Corruption Prevention Department have already visited a number of Heads of Departments on an informal basis to discuss the work of the department. If any Head of Department would like to arrange a meeting to discuss either general or specific corruption prevention matters, he is invited to telephone the Commissioner personally (5-441603) or Mrs. Lily Lam, Head of the Management Group, Corruption Prevention Department (5-441621).
To: Branch Secretaries
Heads of Departments
c.c. Registrar, Supreme Court (f.i.)
M.D.A. CLINTON Deputy Colonial Secretary
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