Graft fighters and media experts converge in HK for international anti-corruption video competition
2011-12-8
Anti-corruption and media experts from around the world today (Thursday) met in Hong Kong to showcase their videos and TV commercials produced for spreading the probity message in the International Anti-Corruption Public Service Announcement Competition a nd Workshop.
The two-day event was hosted by the ICAC upon the appointment of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), an organisation set up to promote the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
Addressing over 200 local and overseas guests and participants at the opening ceremony, ICAC Commissioner Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming said the anti-corruption war could not be won without public endorsement, public participation and public vigilance, and the mass media was the key to engage the community in this campaign.
“The event provides a rendezvous for anti-corruption practitioners, media and advertising professionals and academics from around the world to converge, to deliberate with and learn from each other,” Dr Tong added.
In his opening address, President of IAACA and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, Professor Cao Jianming, said engaging the media to enhance public awareness in the fight against corruption was a highly meaningful endeavour.
“Not only would it encourage different sectors of the community to actively partake in the anti-corruption cause, it would also enhance anti-corruption agencies’ effectiveness and efficiency in investigating and prosecuting corruption crimes.”
Professor Cao also said it was convincing to have the ICAC organising the event because the Commission, since its birth, had been shouldering the historical mission to prevent and combat corruption and providing an environment conducive to Hong Kong’s economic and social development.
Speaking after the ceremony, the ICAC Commissioner noted that the anti-graft agency had so far received 421 complaints concerning suspected breaches of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance in the 2011 District Council Election. Among them , 27 were related to voting offences at the election (“vote planting”).
He also revealed that a 20-strong special taskforce, headed by a Principal Investigator, would be established within the Operations Department to investigate “vote planting” allegations arising from the election.
A total of 29 entries were received from various anti-graft bodies and law enforcement agencies of 21 countries and places for the video competition. Apart from neighbouring places like the Mainland, Macao, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, pa rticipating countries also included Iraq, Bhutan, Brazil, Croatia, Montenegro, Russia, Republic of Botswana, Madagascar, Zambia and Papua New Guinea.
An adjudicating panel, consisting of members of the Event Steering Group, renowned professionals and academics in advertising, mass media and public relations, will assess the contesting videos. Awards in different categories will be presented tomorrow ( December 9) to coincide with the International Anti-Corruption Day.
Speakers at the event included Mr Bob Pickard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Burson-Marsteller Asia Pacific; Mr Donald Steel, former Chief Communication Advisor of the British Broadcasting Corporation; Mr Martin Kreutner, Chair of International Transition Team of the International Anti-Corruption Academy; and Ms Masako Okamura, Creative Director of Dentsu Inc.
Also officiating at today’s event were Mr Giovanni Kessler, Director General of the European Anti-Fraud Office; Dr Eduardo Vetere, Vice President of IAACA; Mr Dimitri Vlassis, Chief of Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Mrs Laura Cha, C hairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption; and Professor John Leong Chi-yan, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations.
The two-day event was hosted by the ICAC upon the appointment of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), an organisation set up to promote the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
Addressing over 200 local and overseas guests and participants at the opening ceremony, ICAC Commissioner Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming said the anti-corruption war could not be won without public endorsement, public participation and public vigilance, and the mass media was the key to engage the community in this campaign.
“The event provides a rendezvous for anti-corruption practitioners, media and advertising professionals and academics from around the world to converge, to deliberate with and learn from each other,” Dr Tong added.
In his opening address, President of IAACA and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, Professor Cao Jianming, said engaging the media to enhance public awareness in the fight against corruption was a highly meaningful endeavour.
“Not only would it encourage different sectors of the community to actively partake in the anti-corruption cause, it would also enhance anti-corruption agencies’ effectiveness and efficiency in investigating and prosecuting corruption crimes.”
Professor Cao also said it was convincing to have the ICAC organising the event because the Commission, since its birth, had been shouldering the historical mission to prevent and combat corruption and providing an environment conducive to Hong Kong’s economic and social development.
Speaking after the ceremony, the ICAC Commissioner noted that the anti-graft agency had so far received 421 complaints concerning suspected breaches of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance in the 2011 District Council Election. Among them , 27 were related to voting offences at the election (“vote planting”).
He also revealed that a 20-strong special taskforce, headed by a Principal Investigator, would be established within the Operations Department to investigate “vote planting” allegations arising from the election.
A total of 29 entries were received from various anti-graft bodies and law enforcement agencies of 21 countries and places for the video competition. Apart from neighbouring places like the Mainland, Macao, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, pa rticipating countries also included Iraq, Bhutan, Brazil, Croatia, Montenegro, Russia, Republic of Botswana, Madagascar, Zambia and Papua New Guinea.
An adjudicating panel, consisting of members of the Event Steering Group, renowned professionals and academics in advertising, mass media and public relations, will assess the contesting videos. Awards in different categories will be presented tomorrow ( December 9) to coincide with the International Anti-Corruption Day.
Speakers at the event included Mr Bob Pickard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Burson-Marsteller Asia Pacific; Mr Donald Steel, former Chief Communication Advisor of the British Broadcasting Corporation; Mr Martin Kreutner, Chair of International Transition Team of the International Anti-Corruption Academy; and Ms Masako Okamura, Creative Director of Dentsu Inc.
Also officiating at today’s event were Mr Giovanni Kessler, Director General of the European Anti-Fraud Office; Dr Eduardo Vetere, Vice President of IAACA; Mr Dimitri Vlassis, Chief of Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Mrs Laura Cha, C hairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption; and Professor John Leong Chi-yan, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations.