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The Government today (December 29) announced appointments to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Advisory Committee on Corruption, the ICAC Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations, the ICAC Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee, the ICAC Operations Review Committee and the ICAC Complaints Committee. Details of the appointments, effective from January 1, 2007, are as follows:
The ICAC Advisory Committee on Corruption
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The Government has appointed the Hon Mrs Laura M Cha as the new Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC) for a term of two years. "Given her outstanding record of public service, we are confident that Mrs Cha will provide an effective steer for the ACOC," a government spokesman said.
The incumbent chairman, Dr Raymond Ch'ien, has already served the ACOC for nine years. The Government thanked Dr Ch'ien for his remarkable contribution as chairman of the ACOC and his time and effort devoted to the committee in the past nine years.
The Government has also re-appointed Mr John Chan Cho-chak, Dr Andrew Chuang Siu-leung and Miss Maria Tam as members of the committee. The Hon Chan Kam-lam and the Hon Jeffrey Lam are appointed as new members. All appointments and re-appointments are for a term of two years.
The ACOC advises the Commissioner, ICAC on any aspect of the problem of corruption in Hong Kong and keeps the operational, staffing and administrative policies of the ICAC under review. The committee also draws to the Chief Executive's attention any special aspect of the work of the ICAC or any problem encountered by it.
The ICAC Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations
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The Government has re-appointed the Hon Chan Yuen-han, Mr Kwan Chuk-fai, Mr Patrick Lai Shu-ho and Prof Daniel Shek Tan-lei as members of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR). Mr Walter Chan, Mr Chow Yick-hay, Mr Lee Luen-fai, Dr Li Pang-kwong, Mr Christopher Yu Wing-fai and Mr Chew Fok-aun are appointed as new members of the committee. All appointments and re-appointments are for a term of two years.
The CACCR advises the Commissioner, ICAC on appropriate measures to foster public support in combating corruption and to educate the public against the evils of corruption. It also monitors community response to the ICAC's work and public attitudes towards corruption in general.
The ICAC Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee
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The Government has re-appointed Dr Andrew Chan Ka-ching, Mr Ip Shing-hing, Mr Victor So Hing-woh, Dr Anissa Chan, Mr Pang Yiu-kai and Ms Helen Wong Pik-kuen as members of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC). Dr Allen Fung, Mr Albert Au Siu-cheung and Ms Betty Ho Siu-fong are appointed as new members of the Committee. All appointments and re-appointments are for a term of two years.
The CPAC receives and calls for reports from the ICAC Corruption Prevention Department about practices and procedures of government departments, public bodies and the private sector with a view to preventing corruption in the different sectors, and advises the Commissioner, ICAC on the areas that should be examined and the degree of priority accorded.
The ICAC Operations Review Committee
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The Government has re-appointed Dr Andrew Chuang Siu-leung as Chairman of the Operations Reviews Committee (ORC). Prof the Hon Anthony Cheung, the Hon Vincent Fang, Mr John Strickland and Mr Herbert Tsoi are re-appointed as members of the committee. The Hon Sin Chung-kai, Mr Roger Luk Koon-hoo, Mr Kam Pok-man and Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi are appointed as new members. All appointments and re-appointments are for a term of two years.
The ORC monitors the work of the ICAC Operations Department. It reviews corruption complaints received and investigations conducted by the ICAC to ensure that they are handled effectively and efficiently. It also examines circumstances where search warrants are authorised by the Commissioner, ICAC, where persons have been put on bail for more than six months, and where investigations have been lasting for over a year or requiring substantial resources.
The ICAC Complaints Committee
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The Government has re-appointed the Hon Jasper Tsang and Mr Anthony Chan as members of the ICAC Complaints Committee for a term of two years.
The ICAC Complaints Committee monitors the handling of complaints against the ICAC, reviews ICAC procedures and practices which may lead to complaints, and makes recommendations when necessary.
The Government thanked all the outgoing members of the ACOC, CACCR, CPAC and ORC for their valuable contributions to the work of the respective Committees.
The non-official membership lists of the five committees are at the Annex.
Ends/Friday, December 29, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:01
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