ICAC Commissioner visits Mainland to strengthen anti-graft cooperation
2007-12-18
The Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Mr Timothy Tong Hin-ming leads a delegation to visit the Mainland authorities including the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Ministry of Supervision to foster closer working relations between the two places in the fight against corruption.
Mr Tong said, “Built on the sound foundation established in past years, the ICAC and the Mainland’s anti-corruption authorities will continue to strengthen cooperation in order to meet new challenges in view of closer economic ties between the two places.”
This is Mr Tong’s first official visit to the Mainland in his capacity as the Commissioner of the ICAC.
In Beijing, the delegation has called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Supervision, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Tong said during an hour-long meeting with the Procurator General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, Mr Jia Chunwang yesterday (Monday), there were substantial discussions and exchanges on the latest developments of anti-corruption work in both jurisdictions.
Both sides confirmed the need to step up cooperation in both enforcement and preventive education and the importance of livelihood issues in the fight against corruption, Mr Tong added.
“We have also exchanged views on the latest encouraging situation on international cooperation following the Second Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities held in Bali in late November,” Mr Tong noted.
Under a Mutual Case Assistance Scheme established since 1988, the ICAC and the Mainland procuratorate authorities have been assisting each other in interviewing voluntary witnesses in relation to investigations of corruption cases.
Mr Tong noted that the scheme had now become an important mechanism for effective cooperation in combating cross-boundary corruption.
Under the scheme, the ICAC had interviewed a total of over 530 witnesses on the Mainland with the assistance of the Mainland procuratorates, leading to the successful investigations of a number of graft cases involving Mainland citizens or companies. Mea nwhile, Mainland procuratorate officials had interviewed some 1,000 witnesses in Hong Kong with ICAC’s help.
In view of increased economic integration between the two places, the ICAC and the Mainland procuratorates will jointly publish a corruption prevention guide for small- and medium-sized enterprises engaged in cross-boundary business, Mr Tong noted.
The Commissioner today (Tuesday) met with Mr Qu Wanxiang, Deputy Minister of Supervision and Deputy Head of the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention to enhance understanding of the main function and work priorities of the newly-established corruption prevention bureau. They also discussed how the two agencies could strengthen exchanges and cooperation in future.
The delegation will depart for Suzhou tomorrow (Wednesday) and call on the local procuratorate and supervision authorities there to foster mutual understanding on anti-corruption work, with a view to exploring opportunities for future cooperation.
Officials accompanying Mr Tong on his current visit include Director of Community Relations Thomas Chan Chi-sun, Director of Investigation (Government Sector) Ryan Wong Sai-chiu, and Assistant Director of Corruption Prevention Jean Au Yeung Lui Miu-kwan. The delegation will conclude its visit on Friday (December 21).
Mr Tong said, “Built on the sound foundation established in past years, the ICAC and the Mainland’s anti-corruption authorities will continue to strengthen cooperation in order to meet new challenges in view of closer economic ties between the two places.”
This is Mr Tong’s first official visit to the Mainland in his capacity as the Commissioner of the ICAC.
In Beijing, the delegation has called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Supervision, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr Tong said during an hour-long meeting with the Procurator General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, Mr Jia Chunwang yesterday (Monday), there were substantial discussions and exchanges on the latest developments of anti-corruption work in both jurisdictions.
Both sides confirmed the need to step up cooperation in both enforcement and preventive education and the importance of livelihood issues in the fight against corruption, Mr Tong added.
“We have also exchanged views on the latest encouraging situation on international cooperation following the Second Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities held in Bali in late November,” Mr Tong noted.
Under a Mutual Case Assistance Scheme established since 1988, the ICAC and the Mainland procuratorate authorities have been assisting each other in interviewing voluntary witnesses in relation to investigations of corruption cases.
Mr Tong noted that the scheme had now become an important mechanism for effective cooperation in combating cross-boundary corruption.
Under the scheme, the ICAC had interviewed a total of over 530 witnesses on the Mainland with the assistance of the Mainland procuratorates, leading to the successful investigations of a number of graft cases involving Mainland citizens or companies. Mea nwhile, Mainland procuratorate officials had interviewed some 1,000 witnesses in Hong Kong with ICAC’s help.
In view of increased economic integration between the two places, the ICAC and the Mainland procuratorates will jointly publish a corruption prevention guide for small- and medium-sized enterprises engaged in cross-boundary business, Mr Tong noted.
The Commissioner today (Tuesday) met with Mr Qu Wanxiang, Deputy Minister of Supervision and Deputy Head of the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention to enhance understanding of the main function and work priorities of the newly-established corruption prevention bureau. They also discussed how the two agencies could strengthen exchanges and cooperation in future.
The delegation will depart for Suzhou tomorrow (Wednesday) and call on the local procuratorate and supervision authorities there to foster mutual understanding on anti-corruption work, with a view to exploring opportunities for future cooperation.
Officials accompanying Mr Tong on his current visit include Director of Community Relations Thomas Chan Chi-sun, Director of Investigation (Government Sector) Ryan Wong Sai-chiu, and Assistant Director of Corruption Prevention Jean Au Yeung Lui Miu-kwan. The delegation will conclude its visit on Friday (December 21).