COMPANIES should be forced by law to report computer crime, says a Fight Crime Committee member. Computer expert Mr Justein Wong has also called on the Government to appoint an Information Technology Secretary and establish a body to advise courts and legislators on anti-computer crime efforts. Mr Wong told the British Computer Society last night that the Government should take urgent action. ''Computer crimes are on the rise and computer data worth millions and millions of dollars are being stolen. Computer systems, networks and valuable programmes are being compromised and tampered with day in and day out,'' he said. ''These hi-tech criminals are laughing all the way to the bank.'' Mr Wong said the proposed Computer Crimes Bill, which failed to pass through Legislative Council proceedings this week, was an inefficient patchwork. He called on the Government to ''require or compel'' companies to report fraud or theft cases involving computers. This would provide the information to ensure legislation covering offences could be effective. Mr Wong said the Government also should ''give corporations a proper push'' to take responsibility for computer crime within their businesses. They should conduct regular internal or external audits, use encryption methods and make systems as tamper-proof as possible. He suggested the Government consider appointing an Information Technology Secretary and establishing a functional constituency for an information technology professional. He also called for a body or committee of professionals including computer experts, hi-tech professionals, police, lawyers, users, students and academics, supported by a full-time secretary. The committee could ''give the court expert evidence in court trials''. The committee also could look at updating the Government on new technology and computer crime trends and advising on legal changes. It could identify computer publications that helped or encouraged hackers, and draft a code of conduct for private and public sectors handling computer data and systems. He said more training and resources should be given to the police or the Independent Commission Against Corruption to implement the law. He outlined recent court cases including one this month in which a financial controller of a large retail outlet had made false computer entries to effect 83 transfers to shift $2.6 million to his own accounts. The controller was sentenced to 21 months jail and ordered to compensate the company.
