ICAC Commissioner Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming today (Monday) issued the following statement:

"We learnt with deep sadness that former ICAC Commissioner, Mr Geoffrey Thomas Barnes, passed away last month. On behalf of all colleagues of the Commission, I would like to express our deepest condolences to Mrs Barnes and family.

"Mr Barnes ably led the ICAC between January 1985 and February 1988. During his tenure, with syndicated corruption in the public sector subsided, the ICAC had to face new challenges in dealing with serious corruption and related offences in the commercial sector, especially in the banking and financial fields.

"Under Mr Barnes' firm guidance, anti-corruption work was greatly strengthened in respect of the business community on both the enforcement and preventive fronts.

"Colleagues who had worked with Mr Barnes fondly remember him as a determined leader and a fine gentleman."