Since early 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has hit all economies around the world and brought unprecedented challenges to the work of the ICAC. Due to the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements imposed by various jurisdictions, our face-to-face training programmes for our overseas counterparts have been suspended.

Capacity building programmes delivered online

To overcome the challenges, the ICAC makes use of various virtual platforms to continue to collaborate with anti-corruption agencies (ACAs) on capacity building. A training module with the theme of "Preventing Corruption in a Cost-effective Way" has been developed for online delivery.

Since the launch of the module in September last year, over 220 graft fighters from the ACAs of ten countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Romania, Sri Lanka and Thailand have participated in the online training. In the two-hour module, ICAC speakers shared with the participants Hong Kong's experience and best practices in sustaining anti-corruption effectiveness under the ever-changing environment through tasks prioritization, partnership with stakeholders in the public and private sectors as well as leveraging information technology to facilitate risk assessment and enhance social engagement.

Secretary to Commission Against Corruption Sally Kwan Yee-lan welcoming 40 graft fighters from the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand for joining the training session in December 2020.

ICAC officers having an online exchange on corruption prevention with the State Audit Institution of Oman in January 2021.

Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu exchanging views with the Chairperson of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Sri Lanka at the opening session of the online training in March 2021.

Collaboration with international and regional partners

Joining hands with the international and regional counterparts, the ICAC is committed to work with ACAs in other jurisdictions in enhancing their anti-corruption capacity. During a webinar hosted by the United Nations Development Programme in December 2020, officers of the ICAC joined the counterparts of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau of Singapore and Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission of Korea to give in-depth briefings to the newly established Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan about the legal, institutional framework and anti-corruption strategies of the respective agencies.

ICAC representatives introducing to the Uzbek graft fighters the independency, three-pronged strategy and international collaboration of ICAC.

Continuous efforts in sustaining a probity culture

The ICAC treasures the cooperation and partnership with other counterparts in the international anti-corruption regime. Despite the suspension of face-to-face exchanges, the ICAC remains steadfast and will keep in step with the times in sustaining a probity culture beyond the pandemic crisis.

Stay tuned with the International Perspective on ICAC website for more up-to-date information about Hong Kong's anti-corruption efforts for other jurisdictions.