HONGKONG needs to prepare to fight an anticipated increase in corruption around 1997, the new head of the ICAC's main advisory panel said yesterday. Executive Councillor Professor Felice Lieh-Mak has been chosen by the Governor, Mr Chris Patten, to be chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption (ACOC), which advises the ICAC on policy issues. Professor Lieh-Mak said she was concerned that there would be more corruption in both the public and private sectors before and after the 1997 transition of power. ''It's a worry that, in fact, it will increase, considering the amount of corruption that is occurring across the border,'' she said. But she added: ''On the other hand, we have to give regard to the Bill of Rights.'' Professor Lieh-Mak replaces Dr Daniel Tse Chi-wai, who spent five years as chairman of the ACOC before retiring last year. Professor Lieh-Mak also said it was very important that the ICAC found a new commissioner as soon as possible to replace Mr Peter Allan, who collapsed and died during an ICAC fun run.
