Hong Kong- Our Advantage is You and the ICAC, says ICAC chief
2006-12-22
ICAC Commissioner Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun says in her web column that the ICAC and the community must continue to adopt a "zero tolerance" attitude towards corruption so as to maintain Hong Kong's reputation as a corruption-free city and a level playing fi eld for businesses, and to preserve Hong Kong's competitive edge internationally.
In her first article in the Commissioner Online column uploaded onto the ICAC website, Mrs Law says over the past weeks since joining the ICAC as the Commissioner, she has visited colleagues at various departments.
"What impressed me most are their professionalism and intense commitment to fighting corruption," says Mrs Law.
In her article entitled "Hong Kong: Our Advantage is You and the ICAC", the Commissioner notes that ICAC staff has unfailingly displayed exceptional enthusiasm toward their duties, and achieved remarkable results.
"Braving difficulties and challenges, they strive to safeguard justice and uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong."
Mrs Law says while Hong Kong is recognised worldwide as a clean metropolitan city, the ICAC must continue its sustained efforts in investigation, corruption prevention and education.
"Despite a continual decline in corruption reports, rapid advancement in information technology and accelerated globalization have made corruption crimes increasingly complex in nature, posing more difficulties for our investigators," she says.
She looks forward to the completion of the new ICAC headquarters building next fall, which will provide a better working environment and improved training facilities for ICAC staff and help enhance operational efficiency.
On the law enforcement front, Mrs Law says this year turns out to be fruitful and rewarding for the Operations Department, with a case-based conviction rate reaching a record 88% in the first eleven months.
"Corruption is inherently a secretive crime and difficult to investigate. Successful prosecutions require that investigators must be able to collect solid and strong evidence through meticulous planning and in full compliance with stringent procedures. O n top of all these, they must be able to withstand the rigorous challenges in court," she says.
The Corruption Prevention Department has provided professional advice to government departments to improve operational procedures and plug possible loopholes to corrupt practices or misconduct. Its work covers a wide spectrum of functional areas, includin g tendering, procurement, allocation of funds and other work procedures.
Working in parallel, the Community Relations Department has been partnering with the Civil Service Bureau to promote a probity culture in the civil service. Mrs Law also reveals that the Department is now making a new television drama series "ICAC Invest igators", to present to the public the "human face" of investigators. The new series is expected to be broadcast next fall.
In the past two months, Mrs Law has also attended meetings of advisory committees established to oversee all aspects of ICAC’s work, and affirms that the Commission is subject to very stringent monitoring both in letter and spirit.
"The committee system ensures the ICAC conducts all its work in the interest of the community.
"Under such a meticulous and stringent system of checks and balances, there is absolutely no leeway for any individual to exert undue influence over the outcome of ICAC investigations," she adds.
Mrs Law's first Commissioner Online article has been posted onto the ICAC website ( http:www.icac.org.hk ) for public access.
In her first article in the Commissioner Online column uploaded onto the ICAC website, Mrs Law says over the past weeks since joining the ICAC as the Commissioner, she has visited colleagues at various departments.
"What impressed me most are their professionalism and intense commitment to fighting corruption," says Mrs Law.
In her article entitled "Hong Kong: Our Advantage is You and the ICAC", the Commissioner notes that ICAC staff has unfailingly displayed exceptional enthusiasm toward their duties, and achieved remarkable results.
"Braving difficulties and challenges, they strive to safeguard justice and uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong."
Mrs Law says while Hong Kong is recognised worldwide as a clean metropolitan city, the ICAC must continue its sustained efforts in investigation, corruption prevention and education.
"Despite a continual decline in corruption reports, rapid advancement in information technology and accelerated globalization have made corruption crimes increasingly complex in nature, posing more difficulties for our investigators," she says.
She looks forward to the completion of the new ICAC headquarters building next fall, which will provide a better working environment and improved training facilities for ICAC staff and help enhance operational efficiency.
On the law enforcement front, Mrs Law says this year turns out to be fruitful and rewarding for the Operations Department, with a case-based conviction rate reaching a record 88% in the first eleven months.
"Corruption is inherently a secretive crime and difficult to investigate. Successful prosecutions require that investigators must be able to collect solid and strong evidence through meticulous planning and in full compliance with stringent procedures. O n top of all these, they must be able to withstand the rigorous challenges in court," she says.
The Corruption Prevention Department has provided professional advice to government departments to improve operational procedures and plug possible loopholes to corrupt practices or misconduct. Its work covers a wide spectrum of functional areas, includin g tendering, procurement, allocation of funds and other work procedures.
Working in parallel, the Community Relations Department has been partnering with the Civil Service Bureau to promote a probity culture in the civil service. Mrs Law also reveals that the Department is now making a new television drama series "ICAC Invest igators", to present to the public the "human face" of investigators. The new series is expected to be broadcast next fall.
In the past two months, Mrs Law has also attended meetings of advisory committees established to oversee all aspects of ICAC’s work, and affirms that the Commission is subject to very stringent monitoring both in letter and spirit.
"The committee system ensures the ICAC conducts all its work in the interest of the community.
"Under such a meticulous and stringent system of checks and balances, there is absolutely no leeway for any individual to exert undue influence over the outcome of ICAC investigations," she adds.
Mrs Law's first Commissioner Online article has been posted onto the ICAC website ( http:www.icac.org.hk ) for public access.