Culture building and systemic prevention the ultimate cure for corruption, says ICAC chief
2015-11-1
The Hong Kong anti-graft experience showed that while law enforcement might suppress corrupt behaviours, the ultimate cure for the problem laid in education and prevention, ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu told an international anti-corruption conference yesterday (Saturday).
Addressing the Opening Ceremony of the Eighth Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) in St. Petersburg, Russia, Mr Peh said probity culture building and systemic prevention constituted the two essential components of the ICAC’s anti-corruption approach from the outset 41 years ago.
“This twin-pillar strategy not only enhances the legitimacy, efficiency and accountability of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption system, but also aptly echoes the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)’s requirement for an independent anti-graft body to implement effective policies, practices and measures to prevent corruption,” Mr Peh said.
Mr Peh shared with conference participants that under the twin-pillar strategy, the ICAC adopted an “Ethics for All” approach to explain the law to different strata of the society and cultivate in every citizen an inner conviction that corruption was totally unacceptable.
“At the same time, we help plug procedural loopholes in organisations and ensure their systems and procedures are fair, accountable, simple and transparent through offering systematic prevention advice,” he added.
Noting that anti-corruption agencies nowadays faced a paradox whereby the successful cracking down of graft cases involving well-known figures such as senior government officials or business tycoons might generate a public perception of a deteriorated corruption scene, Mr Peh said in Hong Kong the reality pointed otherwise.
“Instead, such a case is testament to the robustness of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption system as the ICAC will carry out all investigations independently and impartially, regardless of the background, status and position of the persons involved,” he said.
“The Hong Kong experience tells that the best way to dispel public misconception is to build and maintain high public trust in the anti-corruption agency with solid work results,” the Commissioner stressed.
The three-day IAACA conference was attended by about 200 participants, including anti-corruption and law enforcement officials and experts worldwide to exchange experience in fighting and preventing corruption under UNCAC.
The IAACA, of which the Hong Kong ICAC has been a member since 2007, is a non-governmental international organisation established to strengthen cooperation in worldwide anti-corruption issues and facilitate the effective implementation of the UNCAC. It comprises more than 300 organisational members from anti-graft as well as law enforcement agencies and related organisations from all over the world.
Accompanying Mr Peh is Mr Ho Wai-chi, Secretary to the Commissioner. Mr Peh and Mr Ho will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (Monday).
Addressing the Opening Ceremony of the Eighth Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) in St. Petersburg, Russia, Mr Peh said probity culture building and systemic prevention constituted the two essential components of the ICAC’s anti-corruption approach from the outset 41 years ago.
“This twin-pillar strategy not only enhances the legitimacy, efficiency and accountability of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption system, but also aptly echoes the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)’s requirement for an independent anti-graft body to implement effective policies, practices and measures to prevent corruption,” Mr Peh said.
Mr Peh shared with conference participants that under the twin-pillar strategy, the ICAC adopted an “Ethics for All” approach to explain the law to different strata of the society and cultivate in every citizen an inner conviction that corruption was totally unacceptable.
“At the same time, we help plug procedural loopholes in organisations and ensure their systems and procedures are fair, accountable, simple and transparent through offering systematic prevention advice,” he added.
Noting that anti-corruption agencies nowadays faced a paradox whereby the successful cracking down of graft cases involving well-known figures such as senior government officials or business tycoons might generate a public perception of a deteriorated corruption scene, Mr Peh said in Hong Kong the reality pointed otherwise.
“Instead, such a case is testament to the robustness of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption system as the ICAC will carry out all investigations independently and impartially, regardless of the background, status and position of the persons involved,” he said.
“The Hong Kong experience tells that the best way to dispel public misconception is to build and maintain high public trust in the anti-corruption agency with solid work results,” the Commissioner stressed.
The three-day IAACA conference was attended by about 200 participants, including anti-corruption and law enforcement officials and experts worldwide to exchange experience in fighting and preventing corruption under UNCAC.
The IAACA, of which the Hong Kong ICAC has been a member since 2007, is a non-governmental international organisation established to strengthen cooperation in worldwide anti-corruption issues and facilitate the effective implementation of the UNCAC. It comprises more than 300 organisational members from anti-graft as well as law enforcement agencies and related organisations from all over the world.
Accompanying Mr Peh is Mr Ho Wai-chi, Secretary to the Commissioner. Mr Peh and Mr Ho will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (Monday).
