ENG-1994 — Page 375

PUBLIC ORDER

The department started an intensive Business Ethics Campaign in 1994, to encourage the Hong Kong business community to adopt corporate codes of conduct to increase the territory's competitiveness as an international business centre. The campaign began with a large-scale conference on business ethics in May, which had wide support from the business sector.

At the end of the year, 625 listed companies and large companies had, with the department's assistance, either formulated a code of conduct or reviewed existing ones. The department also launched a Business Ethics Participation Programme, under which 170 chambers of commerce and trade associations organised activities to promote the introduc- tion of codes of ethics among their members. In 1995-96, the ICAC will work with six leading chambers of commerce to set up an Ethics Development Centre, to promote a high standard of business ethics.

A multimedia campaign to foster greater public support in the fight against corruption was organised in February to mark the ICAC's 20th anniversary. Through the mass media and direct personal approaches, the campaign reflected 20 years of success by the ICAC and the need for greater community involvement to keep corruption under control in the years ahead.

Towards the end of the year, the department was co-operating with its counterparts in Guangdong, China, to produce a booklet containing comprehensive guidelines on anti- bribery laws in Hong Kong and China. This was the first time such a comprehensive approach had been taken to assist businessmen involved in China trade. The publication is expected to be available to the territory's businessmen in 1995.

To promote fairness in the elections to the district boards in 1994 and to the municipal councils and the Legislative Council in 1995, the department launched a 'Support Clean Elections' campaign. ICAC staff paid personal visits to each district board candidate to explain the relevant laws, particularly the newly-amended Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance.

A specially-produced diary, complete with all necessary legal information, was given to the candidates for easy reference. An enquiry service was provided on an election hotline and 2.4 million information pamphlets were mailed to the voting public.

The department conducted talks and seminars on anti-bribery laws for some 29 890 staff members of government departments and public bodies.

On the media front, television and radio advertisements as well as direct marketing were used to motivate the public to support the ICAC's work and to report corruption offences. A new drama series, comprising five one-hour episodes and a retrospective of ICAC drama productions, was co-produced with a local television station and telecast in July and August. It was the seventh series of its kind based on actual cases investigated by the ICAC. Apart from its educational value, the series also served to familiarise the public with the day-to- day work of ICAC officers. The series proved popular and was consistently among the top three programmes for the weekends during which it was telecast.

During the year, the department co-operated with the Education Department to produce a video which aims to help parents instil a sense of responsibility and a balanced attitude towards materialism in young people.

Using the video in schools, teachers help parents to co-operate with school authorities in their children's development.

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