According to an Independent Commission Against Corruption survey, 78.7% of respondents indicated their willingness to report corruption - the highest ever, with 72% prepared to reveal their identities when lodging complaints.

The actual proportion of non-anonymous complaints the anti-graft body received in 2006 also hit a record 73%.

A professional research company was commissioned to do the annual survey late last year. They polled 1,534 citizens through random sampling.

The survey found that the majority, or 80.3% of respondents, considered that the commission was impartial in its investigations - a record high since 1993 when the first annual survey was conducted. 

On a 0-10 rating scale, with 0 representing "no confidence" and 10 "completely confident", a mean score of 7.5 was recorded in this survey, showing a high level of confidence in the ICAC. The majority, or 87.1%, gave a score between 7 and 10.

And up to 97.2% of respondents indicated that they would maintain or increase their confidence in the commission - the highest since 1997.

A vast majority - 92.6% - trusted reports made to the ICAC were kept confidential, while about 70% believed the anti-graft agency did not abuse its powers. Both figures are the highest percentages recorded since 1993.  In addition, 68.5% rated the commission as 'very effective' or 'effective'.

Enjoy overwhelming support

The poll also found the ICAC continued to enjoy overwhelming public support with 98.9% affirming that the agency deserved it.

Meanwhile, 65.4% thought corruption was uncommon in our society, and 82.2% expected less corruption or a steady corruption situation in the coming year.

While holding a positive view about corruption in Hong Kong, the public remained highly vigilant.