ENG-1987 — Page 269

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PUBLIC ORDER

investigations, an extensive network of international liaison and co-operation has been established with other law enforcement agencies.

A total of 485 persons were prosecuted for corruption or related offences and 322 prosecutions were completed with 260 convictions; 77 persons were officially cautioned under new procedures ratified by the Attorney General. At the end of the year, 163 cases were awaiting trial and 591 investigations were in progress.

On the advice of the Operations Review Committee, reports concerning 174 serving or former government officers were referred to the heads of departments and the Civil Service Branch for consideration of disciplinary or administrative action.

Corruption Prevention

The Corruption Prevention Department reviews procedures which could be conducive to corruption in government departments and public bodies and recommends changes. Free advice is also available to private organisations or individuals on request.

During the year, 91 assignment studies were completed, bringing the total since 1975 to 1214. These studies were detailed examinations of specific areas of a government department's or a public body's activities, covering policy, law, instructions, work methods and management. Reviewing the effectiveness of previous studies and monitoring corrup- tion prevention measures continued to be an important aspect of the department's work.

The department maintained a close working relationship with a large number of government departments, offering advice on draft legislation, new procedures and instruc- tions. The department also played an active part in departmental and inter-departmental working groups, being represented on 44 working groups or committees. The Corruption Prevention Groups established at directorate level in government departments continued to provide a co-ordinated approach to corruption prevention studies. At the end of the year there were 33 such groups.

Training programmes for supervisors in the government, public bodies, and the private sector continued to be organised. The programmes covered the concepts of supervisory accountability, management's role in corruption prevention, delegation of responsibility and authority and general corruption prevention advice. Training for senior and junior supervisors in the government helped to build corruption prevention measures into government policies and procedures as they evolved.

The department's Advisory Services Group, which gives confidential and free advice to the private sector on corruption prevention measures, was in contact with 117 organisa- tions. Advice, whether in detailed reports or in informal discussion, was designed to meet the clients' specific needs. Since its inception in 1985, the group has provided advice to 198 private sector organisations.

The department continued to take part in management seminars organised by the Shenzhen University for managers and executives in China. Case studies were developed with a view to demonstrating common management weaknesses which were conducive to corruption.

Community Relations

The Community Relations Department is responsible for educating the public against the evils of corruption, harnessing public support in the fight against corruption, and, in the long term, promoting higher moral standards and a greater sense of civic responsibility in the community. The department operates through two divisions, namely the Liaison Division and the Media and Education Division.