Operations

The Operations Department receives and investigates reports of suspected
corruption under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, election
malpractices under the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance, and
corruption-related offences under the ICAC Ordinance.

The ICAC received 3 057 reports alleging corruption (excluding
election-related reports) in 1997. Of these, 1 288 reports were made
against civil servants, a decrease of 1 per cent compared with 1996.
There were 1 571 reports concerning the private sector, a decrease of
5 per cent, and 198 reports against employees of public bodies, compared
with 131 in 1996.

Sufficient information was contained in 2 213 of the corruption reports
received for investigation to commence. The department's caseload was
1 174 at the end of the year. In 1997, 314 persons were prosecuted and
59 cautioned for minor offences.

Corruption remained under control in Hong Kong. During the year, the
department strengthened its strategy to unearth unreported corruption,
and underwent an organisational restructuring to provide more front-line
investigators. It also formed Operational Liaison Groups to forge closer
links with all disciplined services and government departments.

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