ENG-2020 — Page 311

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Public Order

In 2020, the ICAC received 1,924 corruption complaints (excluding election complaints2), down 16 per cent from 2019. Of these complaints, 59 per cent concerned the private sector, 33 per cent related to government departments and 8 per cent involved public bodies. Of the 361 election complaints received in 2020, 332 related to the 2019 District Council Election and 18 concerned the 2020 Legislative Council General Election.

Enforcement

In 2020, on the advice of the Department of Justice, 154 people were prosecuted (one in an election case), 30 were cautioned for minor offences (two in election cases) and 17 were warned for minor breaches of the electoral law in election cases. Of the prosecutions completed during the year, 110 people in 77 cases were convicted, resulting in conviction rates. of 86 per cent (person-based) and 88 per cent (case-based) respectively. By year-end, 1,585 cases, including 388 election cases, were under investigation.

Prevention and Education

The ICAC examines the systems and procedures of government departments and public bodies to assess and identify corruption risks, and advises on how to plug the loopholes. In 2020, it completed 65 assignment reports and provided timely advice on 464 occasions.

Confidential corruption prevention advice is given free to private organisations on request. During the year, the ICAC offered advice on 509 occasions.

The ICAC customises face-to-face and online preventive education programmes for different sectors of the community. In 2020, the ICAC conducted integrity training for over 21,000 government officers, including briefings on ethical leadership for senior officials. An e-learning platform was also rolled out as a self-learning resource for civil servants.

In the private sector, preventive education programmes reaching over 41,000 individuals were launched during the year. Under an ethics promotion campaign, preventive education services and resources were provided to over 3,200 insurers, insurance agencies and broker firms. Information on ethical governance was publicised through the revamped website of the ICAC's Hong Kong Business Ethics Development Centre.

At the community level, guided tours to buildings or sites relevant to ICAC cases in different districts were organised to foster public support for the anti-corruption cause, and emphasise the importance of the rule of law and abiding by the law.

To instil integrity and positive values among the younger generation, young people were engaged to produce social media programmes while picture books were created for children and promulgated to parents and educators.

2

Election complaints refer to complaints alleging breaches of the Elections (Corrupt and illegal Conduct) Ordinance.

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