Closer international co-operation needed to fight corruption, says ICAC Commissioner
2005-12-10
ICAC Commissioner, Raymond Wong Hung-chiu, today (Saturday) called upon the international community to strengthen mutual co-operation in order to combat cross border corruption and other transnational crimes in a more efficient and coordinated manner.
Addressing the first Asia and Europe Meeting Prosecutors-General Conference in Shenzhen, the Mainland, Mr Wong noted that nowadays investigation of corruption crimes had become more protracted and difficult as the ancient evil had evolved to become a tran snational crime by entwining with other cross-border crimes.
"The increasing mobility in international travel movements and monetary transfers have inadvertently and unfortunately facilitated criminals in hiding their ill-gotten gains overseas and fleeing their home country to avoid justice," he said.
Mr Wong cited a number of successful ICAC inquiries which involved assistance from countries including the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and other European states, in the areas of asset tracing, evidence gathering, extradition, ex change of intelligence and undercover operations.
Such cases involved corruption and other serious crimes in relation to massive bank loan scams, and international syndicates engaged in money laundering and smuggling activities.
To strengthen operational liaison with other jurisdictions and enhance its capability to tackle the increasingly sophisticated corrupt activities, the ICAC has set up specialist units on international and Mainland liaison, computer forensics and financial investigation.
Meanwhile, under the current mutual assistance framework, the ICAC had so far successfully extradited 27 suspects back to Hong Kong, with 12 of them returned to the territory after the reunification with the Mainland in 1997.
In 2004, the ICAC made 139 requests for inquiries outside Hong Kong and handled 40 requests from overseas law enforcement agencies.
Mr Wong also said the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which would come into force this month, would mark a milestone in the international campaign against corruption.
"The implementation of the Convention, which is the first global instrument designed to fight corruption in both the public and private sectors, marks a major step forward in the battle against corruption on the international level."
It was understood that the Mainland Government was taking the necessary procedures to ratify the Convention, and intended to extend its application to Hong Kong in due course.
While welcoming this initiative, Mr Wong also revealed that the ICAC would organise the Third ICAC Symposium in May next year to explore strategies in combatting corporate corruption, and promoting corporate governance which have become global concerns.
The four-day Conference, held between December 9 and 12, is attended by procurators-general and law enforcement officials from over 40 Asian and European countries.
Addressing the first Asia and Europe Meeting Prosecutors-General Conference in Shenzhen, the Mainland, Mr Wong noted that nowadays investigation of corruption crimes had become more protracted and difficult as the ancient evil had evolved to become a tran snational crime by entwining with other cross-border crimes.
"The increasing mobility in international travel movements and monetary transfers have inadvertently and unfortunately facilitated criminals in hiding their ill-gotten gains overseas and fleeing their home country to avoid justice," he said.
Mr Wong cited a number of successful ICAC inquiries which involved assistance from countries including the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and other European states, in the areas of asset tracing, evidence gathering, extradition, ex change of intelligence and undercover operations.
Such cases involved corruption and other serious crimes in relation to massive bank loan scams, and international syndicates engaged in money laundering and smuggling activities.
To strengthen operational liaison with other jurisdictions and enhance its capability to tackle the increasingly sophisticated corrupt activities, the ICAC has set up specialist units on international and Mainland liaison, computer forensics and financial investigation.
Meanwhile, under the current mutual assistance framework, the ICAC had so far successfully extradited 27 suspects back to Hong Kong, with 12 of them returned to the territory after the reunification with the Mainland in 1997.
In 2004, the ICAC made 139 requests for inquiries outside Hong Kong and handled 40 requests from overseas law enforcement agencies.
Mr Wong also said the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which would come into force this month, would mark a milestone in the international campaign against corruption.
"The implementation of the Convention, which is the first global instrument designed to fight corruption in both the public and private sectors, marks a major step forward in the battle against corruption on the international level."
It was understood that the Mainland Government was taking the necessary procedures to ratify the Convention, and intended to extend its application to Hong Kong in due course.
While welcoming this initiative, Mr Wong also revealed that the ICAC would organise the Third ICAC Symposium in May next year to explore strategies in combatting corporate corruption, and promoting corporate governance which have become global concerns.
The four-day Conference, held between December 9 and 12, is attended by procurators-general and law enforcement officials from over 40 Asian and European countries.