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The 2015 Annual Report of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Complaints Committee was tabled in the Legislative Council today (July 6). The report gives a summary of the work carried out by the Committee in 2015.
The Committee is tasked with the responsibility of monitoring the handling of non-criminal complaints against the ICAC and its officers. The Committee takes an independent view of ICAC investigation findings on complaints received, reviews ICAC procedures which may lead to complaints and makes recommendations for improvement.
In 2015, the Committee received 19 complaints containing 45 allegations against the ICAC and its officers. In addition, six additional allegations were registered in 2015 in respect of two complaints received in 2014 involving new issues subsequently raised by the respective complainants. Among a total of 51 allegations which were registered in 2015, 41 per cent were related to misconduct, 26 per cent to neglect of duties and six per cent to abuse of power by ICAC officers. The remaining 27 per cent were related to inadequacies of ICAC procedures.
Investigation reports are submitted by the ICAC to the Committee after conducting full investigation on complaint cases, while assessment reports are submitted for complaints which do not warrant full investigation. During 2015, the Committee held three meetings to consider the investigation reports of 19 complaint cases, which contained a total of 81 allegations. Six allegations in four of these complaints were found to be substantiated or partially substantiated and the ICAC officers concerned were given appropriate advice by senior officers. During the year, the Committee also considered and endorsed eight assessment reports. Preliminary enquiries showed that there were no grounds or justifications in these complaints that would warrant formal investigations, and the Committee agreed that no further investigative actions be taken.
In the course of considering the complaints, the Committee also scrutinised the internal procedures, guidelines and practices of the ICAC. Pursuant to the issues arising from the investigation reports considered by the Committee in 2015, the ICAC reviewed certain operational procedures and made improvements. For example, the ICAC reviewed the work of its Report Centre and implemented new measures, including the provision of tailor-made training for officers of the Report Centre with a view to further enhancing their professional skills in handling reports and enquiries from members of the public. The ICAC also refined its procedure to require officers, as part of their handing over arrangement, to notify the complainant should there be a change of the case officer of an ongoing corruption investigation.
The annual report of the Committee is available on the Administration Wing website (www.admwing.gov.hk/eng/links/icac.htm) and also at the ICAC's regional offices.
Ends/Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:45
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