ICAC enters its 45th year with unwavering determination to keep HK corruption-free
2018-12-18
The ICAC would enter its 45 years of graft fight in February next year with unwavering determination in the face of continuous changes in the global environment, said Mr Chow Chung-kong, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption.
Speaking at a press conference today (December 18), Mr Chow noted that the Commission’s anti-corruption work had gained wide recognition and support from members of the public, with 97% of respondents of the 2018 ICAC Annual Survey indicating their support.
In the first 11 months of 2018, the ICAC received 2,494 corruption complaints (excluding election-related complaints), representing a drop of 6% when compared to the same period in 2017. Of all the corruption complaints, 66% concerned the private sector, 27% related to government departments and 7% involved public bodies. The corruption situation in Hong Kong continued to remain well under control.
Mr Chow also noted that the ICAC had made notable progress in international liaison work in 2018, including assisting countries along the Belt and Road (B&R) route in building up their anti-corruption capacities. So far, the Commission had collaborated with 13 B&R countries and provided training proposals to seven of them, while ICAC officers travelled to Cambodia and Myanmar last month to give training to local anti-graft officers.
Noting that the ICAC would mark its 45th anniversary in 2019, Mr Chow revealed that a series of educational and anti-corruption initiatives would be launched next year, including the 7th ICAC Symposium jointly organised by the ICAC and the World Justice Project in May 2019, followed by an international training programme jointly hosted by the ICAC and the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities.
Joining Mr Chow at the press conference today were Mr Benjamin Tang Kwok-bun, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee (ORC); Mr Adrian Wong Koon-man, Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC); and Professor Timothy Tong Wai-cheung, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR).
Concurring with Mr Chow’s view on the importance of public support in the fight against corruption, ORC Chairman Mr Tang was pleased to find that public support stayed strong as 76% of the complainants identified themselves when reporting corruption.
Mr Tang noted that the building management sector remained a public concern, with complaints accounting for 38% of the private sector total. The ORC supported the ICAC’s two-pronged strategy consisting of enforcement and early intervention actions to raise flat owners’ alertness to corruption risks.
Mr Tang also observed that complaints involving solicitation or acceptance of “introduction fee” and/or “tea money” for securing employment in the construction industry had become more significant, adding that the ICAC would spare no effort to eradicate corruption and prevent labour exploitation.
In the first 11 months of 2018, the number of corruption complaints concerning the government sector recorded a drop of 8% from 721 to 661. Despite isolated prosecutions involving public servants, the corruption scene in the government sector remained stable and civil servants continued to stay clean and honest, Mr Tang said.
As at the end of November 2018, the ICAC received a total of 81 election-related complaints, the majority of which were related to the Legislative Council By-election held in March 2018.
Mr Tang stressed that the Commission remained determined to uphold fair and clear public elections, and was prepared to take robust enforcement actions against corrupt and illegal conduct as the new election cycle was due to commence in 2019.
Acknowledging public concern about the investigation involving former Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Mr Tang said the ORC was satisfied that the ICAC had pursued the case in an impartial manner and without fear or favour. While no further information could be disclosed due to the confidential nature of the ORC’s discussion, Mr Tang assured that the committee endorsed that no further investigative action should be taken by the ICAC after careful deliberation.
On the preventive front, CPAC Chairman Mr Wong said in 2018, the CPAC endorsed 69 assignment reports completed by the Corruption Prevention Department (CPD), most of which was related to the operation of government departments and public bodies. The CPD also provided corruption prevention advice for government departments, public organisations and private organisations on 1,300 occasions.
Mr Wong said the CPAC strongly supported the CPD’s strategy of providing early corruption prevention input at different stages in major construction projects, including the Airport Three-Runway System and the Kai Tak Sports Park.
Mr Wong also noted that the CPAC was glad to see an increasingly vigilant private sector as the number of related assignment studies had been on the rise, with a total of 787 consultations given in the first eleven months this year.
Looking ahead, Mr Wong said the CPD would help the Development Bureau review the management of the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works, and collaborate with the Construction Industry Council and relevant professional bodies to further strengthen their corruption prevention capabilities and professional ethics.
Meanwhile, CACCR Chairman Professor Tong said the public continued to show zero tolerance to corruption. Elaborating on the findings of the 2018 ICAC Annual Survey, on a scale of 0-10, with 0 representing total rejection and 10 representing total acceptance of corruption, Professor Tong noted that the poll had registered the lowest tolerance level since 2010 with a mean score of 0.5.
The latest poll also found that over 80 % of respondents were willing to report corruption, the highest percentage since the question was asked in 2010.
Professor Tong commended the Community Relations Department for engaging young people through the Youth Integrity Fest programme, as well as Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality games and other activities on multi- media platforms. In addition, a multi-language publicity package with animation to deliver probity messages to members of the public including new arrivals, ethnic minorities and front-line workers was produced.
To mark the 45th anniversary next year, various educational and publicity events would be launched, including the “All for Integrity” Programme and a new season of the Commission’s signature television drama series “ICAC Investigators 2019”, Professor Tong added.
Speaking at a press conference today (December 18), Mr Chow noted that the Commission’s anti-corruption work had gained wide recognition and support from members of the public, with 97% of respondents of the 2018 ICAC Annual Survey indicating their support.
In the first 11 months of 2018, the ICAC received 2,494 corruption complaints (excluding election-related complaints), representing a drop of 6% when compared to the same period in 2017. Of all the corruption complaints, 66% concerned the private sector, 27% related to government departments and 7% involved public bodies. The corruption situation in Hong Kong continued to remain well under control.
Mr Chow also noted that the ICAC had made notable progress in international liaison work in 2018, including assisting countries along the Belt and Road (B&R) route in building up their anti-corruption capacities. So far, the Commission had collaborated with 13 B&R countries and provided training proposals to seven of them, while ICAC officers travelled to Cambodia and Myanmar last month to give training to local anti-graft officers.
Noting that the ICAC would mark its 45th anniversary in 2019, Mr Chow revealed that a series of educational and anti-corruption initiatives would be launched next year, including the 7th ICAC Symposium jointly organised by the ICAC and the World Justice Project in May 2019, followed by an international training programme jointly hosted by the ICAC and the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities.
Joining Mr Chow at the press conference today were Mr Benjamin Tang Kwok-bun, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee (ORC); Mr Adrian Wong Koon-man, Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee (CPAC); and Professor Timothy Tong Wai-cheung, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations (CACCR).
Concurring with Mr Chow’s view on the importance of public support in the fight against corruption, ORC Chairman Mr Tang was pleased to find that public support stayed strong as 76% of the complainants identified themselves when reporting corruption.
Mr Tang noted that the building management sector remained a public concern, with complaints accounting for 38% of the private sector total. The ORC supported the ICAC’s two-pronged strategy consisting of enforcement and early intervention actions to raise flat owners’ alertness to corruption risks.
Mr Tang also observed that complaints involving solicitation or acceptance of “introduction fee” and/or “tea money” for securing employment in the construction industry had become more significant, adding that the ICAC would spare no effort to eradicate corruption and prevent labour exploitation.
In the first 11 months of 2018, the number of corruption complaints concerning the government sector recorded a drop of 8% from 721 to 661. Despite isolated prosecutions involving public servants, the corruption scene in the government sector remained stable and civil servants continued to stay clean and honest, Mr Tang said.
As at the end of November 2018, the ICAC received a total of 81 election-related complaints, the majority of which were related to the Legislative Council By-election held in March 2018.
Mr Tang stressed that the Commission remained determined to uphold fair and clear public elections, and was prepared to take robust enforcement actions against corrupt and illegal conduct as the new election cycle was due to commence in 2019.
Acknowledging public concern about the investigation involving former Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Mr Tang said the ORC was satisfied that the ICAC had pursued the case in an impartial manner and without fear or favour. While no further information could be disclosed due to the confidential nature of the ORC’s discussion, Mr Tang assured that the committee endorsed that no further investigative action should be taken by the ICAC after careful deliberation.
On the preventive front, CPAC Chairman Mr Wong said in 2018, the CPAC endorsed 69 assignment reports completed by the Corruption Prevention Department (CPD), most of which was related to the operation of government departments and public bodies. The CPD also provided corruption prevention advice for government departments, public organisations and private organisations on 1,300 occasions.
Mr Wong said the CPAC strongly supported the CPD’s strategy of providing early corruption prevention input at different stages in major construction projects, including the Airport Three-Runway System and the Kai Tak Sports Park.
Mr Wong also noted that the CPAC was glad to see an increasingly vigilant private sector as the number of related assignment studies had been on the rise, with a total of 787 consultations given in the first eleven months this year.
Looking ahead, Mr Wong said the CPD would help the Development Bureau review the management of the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works, and collaborate with the Construction Industry Council and relevant professional bodies to further strengthen their corruption prevention capabilities and professional ethics.
Meanwhile, CACCR Chairman Professor Tong said the public continued to show zero tolerance to corruption. Elaborating on the findings of the 2018 ICAC Annual Survey, on a scale of 0-10, with 0 representing total rejection and 10 representing total acceptance of corruption, Professor Tong noted that the poll had registered the lowest tolerance level since 2010 with a mean score of 0.5.
The latest poll also found that over 80 % of respondents were willing to report corruption, the highest percentage since the question was asked in 2010.
Professor Tong commended the Community Relations Department for engaging young people through the Youth Integrity Fest programme, as well as Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality games and other activities on multi- media platforms. In addition, a multi-language publicity package with animation to deliver probity messages to members of the public including new arrivals, ethnic minorities and front-line workers was produced.
To mark the 45th anniversary next year, various educational and publicity events would be launched, including the “All for Integrity” Programme and a new season of the Commission’s signature television drama series “ICAC Investigators 2019”, Professor Tong added.