Photo: The ICAC held a recruitment experience day, with four events expected to receive 1,000 people. \Photo by Cai Wenhao, a reporter from Ta Kung Pao

The ICAC Enforcement Division has launched a new round of recruitment plan, holding recruitment experience days yesterday (22nd) and on Saturday 29th, so that more candidates can have a deeper understanding of the ICAC’s anti-corruption work and exam preparation tips. It is expected that about 1,000 people will participate.

Participants who are interested in joining the anti-corruption work can take the physical fitness test on the spot. If they pass the physical fitness test, they have met the physical fitness requirements for this year’s recruitment. The new round of goals is to hire about 30 investigation directors and assistant investigation directors. A participant who just graduated from university passed the physical fitness test on the experience day. He was interested in the anti-corruption work of the ICAC and came to apply for the exam as soon as possible, and he had confidence in himself. \ Ta Kung Pao reporter Gu Zhuoxun (text) Xu Zhaojie (video)

In August last year, the ICAC launched its first recruitment experience day in conjunction with its recruitment plan to promote ICAC recruitment information to job seekers. On the 22nd and 29th of this month, the ICAC will hold recruitment experience days again at the ICAC Building in North Point to allow applicants to gain an in-depth understanding of the ICAC’s anti-corruption work. There will be four experience activities in the morning and afternoon over the two days, and it is expected to receive a total of about 1,000 people. Participants can simulate interviewing suspects and recording their statements in the video interview room. In addition to listening to the Enforcement Division staff explain the video interview process, they can also personally put themselves in the role of an investigator and try to “invite people for coffee” at the famous ICAC “triangle table” to simulate the situation of interviewing suspects. Participants can also learn how ICAC armed officers demonstrate how to use law enforcement tools such as handcuffs, telescopic batons, pepper spray, etc., and can personally participate in simulated arrest and search operations. They can also use the ICAC’s newly introduced VR investigation scenario training system for internal training, play the role of an investigator in a real scene of performing a task, respond to different situations, and experience the importance of investigators staying alert at all times, and must have keen analytical and judgment skills, and be flexible and adaptable to respond on the spot.

During the event, serving ICAC officers also shared their application experience and physical fitness test tips, and interacted with the participants, so that the participants could understand how the ICAC uses a three-pronged strategy of law enforcement, prevention and education to combat corruption. This experience day is launched in conjunction with the new round of recruitment plan. Participants can take the entry physical fitness test on the spot during the experience day. If they pass the test on the same day, they will be equivalent to meeting the physical fitness requirements for this year’s recruitment.

Last year, job applications increased by 30%

Last year, the ICAC received more than 5,000 job applications, an increase of about 30% over the previous year. The last round of recruitment process is nearing completion, and the successful candidates have also started work one after another. It is expected that the vacancy rate of the five ranks from Assistant Director of Investigation to Chief Director of Investigation in the Enforcement Department will continue to decline in the next few months. Du Anqi, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong International Integrity Academy of the ICAC, said that the ICAC’s new round of recruitment goal is to invite about 30 Directors of Investigation and Assistant Directors of Investigation. The turnover rate of the ICAC’s Enforcement Department has remained below 2% in recent years, and the recruited personnel can fill the relevant vacancies. She also said that the ICAC allowed third-year and fourth-year university students to apply last year, and finally received about 300 applications, accounting for 5% to 6% of the total number of applicants. The final investigation director who was hired also includes university students who graduated this year. Nearly 90% of the attendees of this recruitment experience day signed up to take the physical fitness test on the spot, reflecting that the participants are interested in applying for jobs in the ICAC.

Apply for both positions before July 12

Xin Weiqing, Investigation Director of the Enforcement Division of the ICAC, joined the ICAC in 2018. She completed a double degree in economics and finance in Hong Kong, and then went abroad to study for a master’s degree in international political economics. She joined the ICAC as an assistant investigation director in 2018 and was promoted to investigation director three years later. Because the housing estate where he lived when he was young was the housing estate involved in a very sensational building maintenance corruption and bid-rigging case at that time, the ICAC’s law enforcement work brought the illegal engineering company owner to justice and protected the rights and interests of residents, which cultivated his anti-corruption will and sense of mission. Regarding the preparation experience for applying for the ICAC, he said that whether it is language proficiency, paying attention to current affairs, understanding society, and exercising physical fitness, they are just basic skills. The most important thing is that the candidates demonstrate their personal anti-corruption will and sense of mission, and show that they have the touch of an investigator and the courage to face challenges. As long as they have the above elements, I believe that candidates can pass the assessment and become a member of the ICAC.

The ICAC Enforcement Division is conducting a new round of recruitment and is accepting applications for the positions of Investigation Director and Assistant Investigation Director from now until July 12. Interested applicants can submit their applications through the ICAC e-recruitment system.