ENG-2016 — Page 331

16

Public Order

The latest series of ICAC Investigators television drama series, adapted from real corruption cases, attracted a viewership of over 9.6 million. An 'All for Integrity' Facebook fanpage was launched to disseminate integrity messages to the public, especially the young. By end-2016, it had recorded 105,000 user engagements and over 5,300 page 'likes'

The ICAC Commissioner, Mr Simon Peh, briefed international organisations on Hong Kong's latest probity situation and anti-corruption initiatives. The visiting Chair of anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, Mr Jose Carlos Ugaz, commended the ICAC for substantially reducing corruption in Hong Kong through its anti-graft efforts.

Checks and Balances

The ICAC is an independent body. To monitor its work adequately, the commission is subject to the scrutiny of four independent committees: the Advisory Committee on Corruption, Operations Review Committee, Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee and Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations. The committee chairmen host an annual press conference to account for their oversight of the ICAC.

All corruption complaints, whether pursuable or not, must be reported to the Operations Review Committee for scrutiny. No investigation can be written off without its endorsement. An independent ICAC Complaints Committee, comprising members of the Executive Council and the Legislative Council as well as prominent members of the community appointed by the Chief Executive, monitors and reviews all non-criminal complaints against the ICAC or its officers.

Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance

The Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance, enacted in August 2006, was amended in June 2016. It provides a statutory regime for the authorisation and regulation of interception of communications and covert surveillance conducted by law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to prevent or detect serious crime and protect public security. The Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance is an independent oversight authority, appointed by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Chief Justice.

A secretariat assists the commissioner in performing the commissioner's statutory duties, which include overseeing and conducting reviews of the compliance by LEAS and their officers with the ordinance's relevant requirements; carrying out examinations upon application from persons who suspect that they are subjects of interception or covert surveillance conducted by LEAs; giving notifications to those affected in cases of interception or covert surveillance without the authority of a prescribed authorisation; and making recommendations to the Secretary for Security on the code of practice issued under the ordinance and to the heads of LEAs to better carry out the objects of the ordinance or the provisions of the code of practice.

The commissioner submits annual reports to the Chief Executive with statistical information and his assessment of overall compliance with the ordinance's requirements. The 2015 annual

269