Public Order 1 323
Broadcast in September, the latest season of the 'ICAC Investigators' TV drama series attracted an average of nearly 1.4 million viewers for each episode. The drama, based on completed corruption cases, made a debut before the Mainland audience when telecast on China Central Television in December.
International and Cross-boundary Co-operation
The ICAC maintains regular operational liaison with overseas law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies. During the year, the ICAC received a total of 442 visitors from 28 countries and five international organisations.
The ICAC and the Mainland procuratorates continued to provide assistance to each other under the Mutual Case Assistance Scheme established in 1988. In 2009, the ICAC and Mainland procuratorate officers interviewed a total of 77 witnesses in each other's jurisdictions through this scheme.
On the preventive and education fronts, the ICAC, the Ministry of Supervision and the Commission Against Corruption of Macao jointly organised a seminar in Macao in November to explore the control of corruption risks in the private sector. During the year, the ICAC briefed 5 100 visiting Mainland officials on Hong Kong's anti-corruption work.
At the invitation of Taiwan's justice authorities, the ICAC Commissioner led a delegation to visit Taipei in December to exchange experience on anti-corruption work focusing on integrity management, promotion of business ethics and moral education.
Checks and Balances
The ICAC operates under a stringent system of checks and balances. Apart from judicial supervision, the Commission's work is scrutinised by four independent committees: the Advisory Committee on Corruption, the Operations Review Committee, the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee and the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations. The committee chairmen hold a press conference annually to review their work in supervising the ICAC.
An independent ICAC Complaints Committee, chaired by a former member of the Executive Council and comprising legislators and prominent citizens, monitors the handling of non-criminal complaints lodged against the ICAC and its officers.
Government Laboratory
The Forensic Science Division of the Government Laboratory provides a comprehensive forensic service to the criminal justice system in Hong Kong. It has two operational groups. During the year, the professional staff of the division. attended a total of 540 crime scenes.
The Drugs, Toxicology and Documents Group examines cases involving drugs. The number of such cases remained high in 2009, with ketamine continuing to be the most widely abused drug in Hong Kong followed by heroin, benzodiazepines, amphetamine type stimulants, cannabis and cocaine. The urinalysis service also saw a continual growth of demand during the year. In addition to providing drug testing
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