ICAC Commissioner visits graft-fighting organisations in Austria and Switzerland to foster international anti-graft collaborations
2023-9-12
An ICAC delegation, led by Commissioner Woo Ying-ming, has commenced a 7-day duty visit to Austria and Switzerland to explore closer collaboration with various international anti-corruption organisations.
Upon his arrival in Austria on September 10, Mr Woo called on Mr Li Song, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna in the afternoon. The duo exchanged views on ICAC’s upcoming initiatives in strengthening international anti-corruption work and related trainings.
Mr Woo visited the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna yesterday (September 11) and met with the organization’s Executive Director Ms Ghada Waly. Mr Woo noted that since February 2006, the Central People’s Government had, in accordance with the requirements under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), appointed the ICAC to provide assistance to other UNCAC state parties in formulating and implementing corruption prevention policies. Noting that UNODC was one of the Commission’s key partners in international cooperation, Mr Woo said the two agencies would further deepen global anti-corruption collaboration through bilateral meeting.
Mr Woo also noted that as next year would mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the ICAC, the Commission would launch a series of international signature anti-corruption activities, including a professional training programme on financial investigation. Members of international anti-corruption agencies (ACAs) would be invited to partake in the event which would be co-hosted by the ICAC and UNODC in Hong Kong early next year.
The delegation will call on the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Austria today (September 12) to meet with its managerial officials. Mr Woo noted that he looked forward to learning about the IACA’s experience in anti-corruption training and strengthening training cooperation between the Hong Kong International Academy of Anti-Corruption and IACA in future.
In Vienna, Mr Woo also paid a visit to two ICAC Senior Investigators, Cindy Ho Pui-ha and Victor Lee Wai-hong, who, on the recommendation of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region early this year, have been posted to the UNODC under the United Nation Junior Professional Officer Programme. Mr Woo was briefed on their work at UNODC and he encouraged them to broaden their views and leverage their graft-fighting experience as well as professional knowledge to contribute to the international community.
The delegation is scheduled to depart from Austria for Switzerland on September 13 where they will meet with Ms Gretta Fenner, Managing Director of Basel Institute of Governance, on the following day to discuss issues including international cooperation on law enforcement, financial investigation and assets recovery, etc, as well as to explore directions for future cooperation.
“This is my first visit to anti-corruption organizations in Europe since taking up the posts as ICAC Commissioner and President of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA). While over the years the ICAC has developed close ties with these organisations, more opportunities for cooperation will be explored on this trip, demonstrating the determination of the ICAC and IAACA in proactively fostering a probity culture. Anti-graft cooperation should transcend borders, all the more so because corruption knows no boundaries. We should all come together and share our successful experience,” Mr Woo said.
Mr Woo and the delegation also called on Ms Qi Mei, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of People’s Republic of China to Austria; and will visit Mr Wang Shihting, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of People’s Republic of China to Switzerland. Mr Woo and the delegation will brief them on Hong Kong’s latest development in the fight against corruption and listen to their views on the probity situation and cultural developments of the two countries. Mr Woo also expresses appreciation for their assistance provided during the trip as well as to ICAC’s international liaisons work over the years.
ICAC officers accompanying Mr Woo on the duty visit to Austria and Switzerland are Director of International Cooperation and Corporate Services Mr Kenneth Wong Kwok-hung, Assistant Director of the Operations Department Mr Martin Lee King-man, Director of Academy Office Mr Paul Lau Chi-ho, Principal International Cooperation Officer of the International Cooperation and Corporate Services Department Mr Lawrence Chiu Ming-wah, Principal Community Relations Officer of the Community Relations Department Ms Debbie Ly Uyen-g, Principal Investigator of the Operations Department Ms Hazel Law Pui-man, Senior Investigator Mr Karson Li Tsz-hin and Staff Officer Mr Justin Tung Siu-kei. The delegation will return to Hong Kong on Saturday morning (September 16).
Upon his arrival in Austria on September 10, Mr Woo called on Mr Li Song, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna in the afternoon. The duo exchanged views on ICAC’s upcoming initiatives in strengthening international anti-corruption work and related trainings.
Mr Woo visited the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna yesterday (September 11) and met with the organization’s Executive Director Ms Ghada Waly. Mr Woo noted that since February 2006, the Central People’s Government had, in accordance with the requirements under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), appointed the ICAC to provide assistance to other UNCAC state parties in formulating and implementing corruption prevention policies. Noting that UNODC was one of the Commission’s key partners in international cooperation, Mr Woo said the two agencies would further deepen global anti-corruption collaboration through bilateral meeting.
Mr Woo also noted that as next year would mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the ICAC, the Commission would launch a series of international signature anti-corruption activities, including a professional training programme on financial investigation. Members of international anti-corruption agencies (ACAs) would be invited to partake in the event which would be co-hosted by the ICAC and UNODC in Hong Kong early next year.
The delegation will call on the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Austria today (September 12) to meet with its managerial officials. Mr Woo noted that he looked forward to learning about the IACA’s experience in anti-corruption training and strengthening training cooperation between the Hong Kong International Academy of Anti-Corruption and IACA in future.
In Vienna, Mr Woo also paid a visit to two ICAC Senior Investigators, Cindy Ho Pui-ha and Victor Lee Wai-hong, who, on the recommendation of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region early this year, have been posted to the UNODC under the United Nation Junior Professional Officer Programme. Mr Woo was briefed on their work at UNODC and he encouraged them to broaden their views and leverage their graft-fighting experience as well as professional knowledge to contribute to the international community.
The delegation is scheduled to depart from Austria for Switzerland on September 13 where they will meet with Ms Gretta Fenner, Managing Director of Basel Institute of Governance, on the following day to discuss issues including international cooperation on law enforcement, financial investigation and assets recovery, etc, as well as to explore directions for future cooperation.
“This is my first visit to anti-corruption organizations in Europe since taking up the posts as ICAC Commissioner and President of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA). While over the years the ICAC has developed close ties with these organisations, more opportunities for cooperation will be explored on this trip, demonstrating the determination of the ICAC and IAACA in proactively fostering a probity culture. Anti-graft cooperation should transcend borders, all the more so because corruption knows no boundaries. We should all come together and share our successful experience,” Mr Woo said.
Mr Woo and the delegation also called on Ms Qi Mei, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of People’s Republic of China to Austria; and will visit Mr Wang Shihting, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of People’s Republic of China to Switzerland. Mr Woo and the delegation will brief them on Hong Kong’s latest development in the fight against corruption and listen to their views on the probity situation and cultural developments of the two countries. Mr Woo also expresses appreciation for their assistance provided during the trip as well as to ICAC’s international liaisons work over the years.
ICAC officers accompanying Mr Woo on the duty visit to Austria and Switzerland are Director of International Cooperation and Corporate Services Mr Kenneth Wong Kwok-hung, Assistant Director of the Operations Department Mr Martin Lee King-man, Director of Academy Office Mr Paul Lau Chi-ho, Principal International Cooperation Officer of the International Cooperation and Corporate Services Department Mr Lawrence Chiu Ming-wah, Principal Community Relations Officer of the Community Relations Department Ms Debbie Ly Uyen-g, Principal Investigator of the Operations Department Ms Hazel Law Pui-man, Senior Investigator Mr Karson Li Tsz-hin and Staff Officer Mr Justin Tung Siu-kei. The delegation will return to Hong Kong on Saturday morning (September 16).
ICAC Commissioner Woo Ying-ming (left) meets with UNODC Executive Director Ms Ghada Waly.
ICAC delegation and UNODC officials exchange views on anti-corruption work.
Woo Ying-ming (fourth from right) visits Mr Li Song (fourth from left), Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna.
Woo Ying-ming (centre) chats with two ICAC Senior Investigators who have been posted to UNODC under the United Nation Junior Professional Officer Programme.