Join the ICAC: a brand you can trust

Do you know what ICAC stands for? Apparently, it's Integrity, Confidence, Ability and Courage, at least according to the graft-buster's recruitment ad.

A total of 3,786 applicants are competing for 20 positions as investigators and assistant investigators, which pay $26,230 and $13,970 respectively. Applications closed last week. More than 85 per cent of applicants hold a university degree, 30 per cent have a master's, and quite a few are studying for their PhD.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption has not hired for two years. Recruitment rounds in 2001 and 1997 each had more than 2,000 applicants, but then they were offering 62 and 85 jobs respectively.

Why the upsurge in applications? Perhaps more Hong Kong people have rediscovered their inner core values and sense of fair play. 'We don't know, maybe ICAC is a very trusted strong brand,' a spokesman for Integrity, Confidence, Ability and Courage said.