ENG-2007 — Page 375

Public Order 1 319

To help strengthen ethical governance in listed companies and the business community, the department partnered with regulators, professional bodies and major chambers of commerce to launch an integrity training programme for company directors. More than 150 company directors and corporate executives took part in a forum held in September to launch the programme. The department will continue to organise regular training seminars to sustain the programme's impact.

The department is working with the Mainland's anti-corruption authorities to produce a guidebook on corruption prevention for small- and medium-sized enterprises engaged in cross-boundary business which continues to grow in the wake of further economic integration with the Mainland. The guidebook is expected to be launched in the second quarter of 2008.

To strengthen young people's integrity, the department also embarked on various programmes. During the year, it organised a 'summit' meeting on corporate ethics for university students, which was attended by 500 participants from Hong Kong, Mainland and overseas institutions. The department also launched a pilot 'ICAC Ambassador' programme at a local university to recruit volunteers to help promote integrity on campus.

The department further stepped up its educational programme on corruption prevention for the building management sector as a result of the large number of corruption complaints in that industry. It is working closely with other government departments, the Hong Kong Housing Society and professional bodies to implement the programme. During the year, the department recommended corruption prevention measures to over 850 owners' incorporations. Other initiatives such as the production of a corruption prevention tool kit, the setting up of an enquiry hotline and a special website on clean building management are in the pipeline.

To ensure that public elections are conducted in a clean and fair manner, the department mounted extensive educational and publicity campaigns for elections held during the year. The department drove across the 'support clean elections' message to the public with the help of TV and radio advertisements, exhibitions, publicity leaflets and a dedicated website. It also organised briefings and produced booklets to acquaint candidates and election agents in particular with the major provisions of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance. An enquiry hotline was set up to offer advice on 'dos' and 'don'ts' in taking part in different elections held in Hong Kong.

The department continued to make extensive use of the mass media to enhance the transparency of ICAC's work and to increase public awareness of the evils of corruption. A five-episode TV drama series adapted from real ICAC cases was broadcast in 2007. The series proved to be very popular, with each episode attracting an average audience of 1 million. In addition, a new advertising campaign was launched to encourage the public to report corruption to the ICAC.

International Cooperation

As a signatory to the UNCAC, the Central People's Government has designated the ICAC as an authority to assist other signatory parties to implement

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320 Public Order