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PUBLIC ORDER

International Co-operation

As business transactions and the transfer of funds become more international, so does corruption. Liaison and co-operation with foreign corruption investigation and law enforce- ment agencies are essential.

In February, as one of the activities organised to mark the ICAC's 20th anniversary, the Operations Department hosted an international seminar on corruption-related crime. The seminar was attended by 34 delegates representing 16 law enforcement agencies from Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States of America and Hong Kong. The seminar provided a forum for the exchange of professional experiences and ideas, and promoted further understanding and co-operation among the agencies.

During the year, the ICAC received 126 visitors from law enforcement agencies and other organisations in various countries. The Operations Department sent its investigators to China on four occasions and to other countries on 97 occasions for inquiries into various cases. It assisted investigators from China on 13 occasions and from other countries on six occasions in their inquiries in Hong Kong.

Checks and Balances

To minimise the possibility of any abuse of power, the ICAC is subject to a stringent system of checks and balances. At the policy level, the ICAC is guided by the Advisory Com- mittee on Corruption, which reviews and advises the Commissioner on all aspects of anti- corruption policy, strategy and legislation. It comprises seven prominent citizens, with the Secretary for the Civil Service, the Commissioner Against Corruption and the ICAC's Head of Operations sitting as ex-officio members.

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An investigation can only be completed by a decision to prosecute made independently by the Attorney General, or on the authorisation of the Operations Review Committee, which has to be satisfied that the enquiry has been exhaustively pursued and merits no further investigative action. The Operations Review Committee comprises civic leaders and prominent citizens appointed by the Governor, the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Police, and the ICAC's Head of Operations, and is chaired by the Commissioner Against Corruption. During the year, two more civic leaders were appointed, making a total of eight unofficial members on the committee.

Two other committees, the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations and the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee, review and advise on the work of the Community Relations Department and Corruption Prevention Department, respectively.

Members of the public can lodge formal complaints against ICAC officers to the ICAC Complaints Committee. Its membership comprises four members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, two prominent citizens, the Attorney General and the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints. In addition, the Operations Department has an internal investigation group which monitors and investigates complaints or allegations of corruption against ICAC officers.

During the year, public concern emerged over the extent of the ICAC's powers. The government recognised the need for a review and appointed an independent review committee comprising seven prominent citizens and two government officials to examine the ICAC's powers and its accountability. The ICAC welcomed this timely review

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