Five decades on, ICAC is still unwavering in upholding probity and rule of law
2024-2-26
Chairmen of the four independent advisory committees overseeing various aspects of ICAC’s work today (February 26) noted that through thick and thin in the past 50 years, the Commission remained committed to its anti-graft mission and together with different strata of the community, safeguarded Hong Kong’s rule of law and the core value of integrity. The achievement also demonstrated the advisory committees, a unique system of checks and balances in Hong Kong’s anti-corruption regime, was adequate and effective.
Hosting a press conference today to review the work of ICAC’s independent advisory committees in 2023 were the Hon Martin Liao Cheung-kong, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption; Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee; Dr Kelvin Wong Tin-yau, Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee; and Professor Simon Ho Shun-man, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations.
Chairman Liao remarked that during the past year, the ICAC continued to adopt its three-pronged strategy in its fight against corruption and yielded encouraging results in international cooperation, law enforcement, prevention and education. The Commission’s proactive initiatives to expand collaboration with counterparts locally and abroad to promote the integrity culture of Hong Kong in the international arena was also commended.
“Leveraging its 50 years of solid graft fighting experience, the recognition in anti-corruption and support from our country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the ICAC has taken up the presidency of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authority (IAACA). This is an opportunity to enhance global connection, initiate greater anti-corruption synergy and demonstrate Hong Kong’s strength to the international community,” Chairman Liao noted.
Under the leadership of ICAC Commissioner as president of the IAACA, the number of member organisations rose from 123 to nearly 170, coming from law enforcement, prosecution, audit and relevant agencies from different jurisdictions. The achievement of the ICAC was highly recognised by the United Nations. In July last year, for the first time the ICAC was invited by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to host an anti-corruption workshop in its headquarters in Vienna. Upon the official establishment of the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption (the Academy) in mid-February this year, the ICAC took the opportunity to co-organise an anti-corruption course on financial investigation with the UNODC in Hong Kong, attracting anti-corruption professionals from approximately 20 jurisdictions.
To fully complement the Belt and Road initiative of the country, last year the ICAC sent representatives to Uzbekistan, Morocco and Mauritius to attend international forums and deliver anti-corruption trainings.
Speaking at today’s press conference, Chairman Chan noted that the corruption situation in Hong Kong continued to remain well under control. The Commission received 2,001 non-election related corruption complaints with pursuable complaints stood at 1,566, both registered an increase of 9 per cent compared with 2022. Public support for the ICAC’s anti-corruption work remained strong with 71 per cent of the complainants identified themselves when reporting corruption.
Chairman Chan attributed the increase of corruption complaints to the gradual recovery of Hong Kong’s economic activities after the pandemic, as evidenced in a corresponding rise of complaints concerning the private sector. However, when compared to the pre-pandemic period in 2019, the number of complaints still registered a dop of 13 per cent.
While private sector complaints took up 72 per cent, those related to government departments and public bodies accounted for 23 per cent and 6 per cent respectively (Note 1). In the private sector, the three industries attracting most complaints were Building Management, Finance and Insurance, and the Construction Industry.
Last year, the crackdown of the biggest corruption case over building maintenance and the swift prosecution of 23 persons had caused the industry to be more vigilant and heighted public awareness, giving rise to 544 related complaints which represented a 30 per cent increase, Chairman Chan added.
In recent years, the ICAC forged stronger collaborations with various financial regulators, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Insurance Authority last year to take joint action over the fight against corruption and misconduct in the financial market. Noting that various large-scale infrastructure projects are in the pipeline and the persistent labour shortages in the construction industry, the ICAC would remain vigilant in monitoring corruption risks in the industry, particularly those related to public works and bribery for job referral.
On the prevention front, Chairman Wong noted that the ICAC adopted an early input approach to government’s new initiatives, such as providing early corruption prevention advice over primary healthcare blueprint and light public housing. The Commission also actively assisted government departments and public bodies to embrace technology for enhancing anti-corruption capabilities, including the launch of “Corruption Prevention Guide – Corruption Prevention through Digitalisation”. Trainings to equip senior civil servants’ anti-corruption abilities by using technology were also in the pipeline.
In the previous year, the ICAC completed 71 assignment reports and provided corruption prevention advice for government departments and other organisations on 2,083 occasions. The Commission also launched prevention guides for building management, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), banking and law firms to enhance corruption prevention capability and corporate governance in the private sector.
On the education front, Chairman Ho remarked that the ICAC had rolled out a series of running and walking events under the theme “Fighting Corruption: The Mission Continues” to engage members of the public and remind them despite challenges, the ICAC remained committed to the fight against corruption.
The Commission had also introduced the ICAC’s Kids Classroom to instil positive values such as honesty and fairness to students of kindergarteners and parents through visiting the ICAC Building and storytelling activities. Aspiring young people were equipped to become future leaders with integrity, as well as a strong sense of national identity, global vision and rule of law under the ICAC ELITE Youth Leadership Programme.
To tie in with the Government’s labour importation schemes for different sectors, the ICAC had promptly drawn up and implemented an education and publicity plan to help new comers familiarise with the anti-corruption laws of Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, all four Chairmen endorsed the ICAC’s work plan and publicity strategies for the first large-scale territory-wide election following the improved district governance and the reformed District Councils, which smoothly took place in December last year.
Chairman Chan noted that on polling day, over 900 ICAC officers were deployed to polling stations across the territory to help ensure the election would be conducted in a fair, just, clean, safe and orderly manner. Seven individuals were arrested for allegedly inciting others not to vote, to cast blank or invalid vote, by activity in public during election period, and two of them were swiftly charged.
Chairman Ho added that as Area Committees, District Fight Crime Committees and District Fire Safety Committees played significant roles in the election, the ICAC had launched a multi-faceted education and publicity campaign to help members and stakeholders to better understand the electoral law. Chairman Wong also noted that the Commission provided advice on Election-related Activities and polling arrangements for the election held last year.
Looking forward, the four advisory committees support the ICAC’s continued efforts to further expand collaborations with more anti-corruption and relevant agencies around the globe to build a clean silk road and a graft-free world. Locally, the Commission would ride on its golden jubilee to showcase Hong Kong’s edge and continue to foster integrity education in the community and to young people. It will also continue to assist public and private sectors to enhance their corruption prevention capabilities and strengthen corruption prevention system and governance of NGOs, building management, listed companies and large-scale infrastructure projects.
Note 1: Individual percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.
Hosting a press conference today to review the work of ICAC’s independent advisory committees in 2023 were the Hon Martin Liao Cheung-kong, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption; Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee; Dr Kelvin Wong Tin-yau, Chairman of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee; and Professor Simon Ho Shun-man, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Community Relations.
Chairman Liao remarked that during the past year, the ICAC continued to adopt its three-pronged strategy in its fight against corruption and yielded encouraging results in international cooperation, law enforcement, prevention and education. The Commission’s proactive initiatives to expand collaboration with counterparts locally and abroad to promote the integrity culture of Hong Kong in the international arena was also commended.
“Leveraging its 50 years of solid graft fighting experience, the recognition in anti-corruption and support from our country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the ICAC has taken up the presidency of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authority (IAACA). This is an opportunity to enhance global connection, initiate greater anti-corruption synergy and demonstrate Hong Kong’s strength to the international community,” Chairman Liao noted.
Under the leadership of ICAC Commissioner as president of the IAACA, the number of member organisations rose from 123 to nearly 170, coming from law enforcement, prosecution, audit and relevant agencies from different jurisdictions. The achievement of the ICAC was highly recognised by the United Nations. In July last year, for the first time the ICAC was invited by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to host an anti-corruption workshop in its headquarters in Vienna. Upon the official establishment of the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption (the Academy) in mid-February this year, the ICAC took the opportunity to co-organise an anti-corruption course on financial investigation with the UNODC in Hong Kong, attracting anti-corruption professionals from approximately 20 jurisdictions.
To fully complement the Belt and Road initiative of the country, last year the ICAC sent representatives to Uzbekistan, Morocco and Mauritius to attend international forums and deliver anti-corruption trainings.
Speaking at today’s press conference, Chairman Chan noted that the corruption situation in Hong Kong continued to remain well under control. The Commission received 2,001 non-election related corruption complaints with pursuable complaints stood at 1,566, both registered an increase of 9 per cent compared with 2022. Public support for the ICAC’s anti-corruption work remained strong with 71 per cent of the complainants identified themselves when reporting corruption.
Chairman Chan attributed the increase of corruption complaints to the gradual recovery of Hong Kong’s economic activities after the pandemic, as evidenced in a corresponding rise of complaints concerning the private sector. However, when compared to the pre-pandemic period in 2019, the number of complaints still registered a dop of 13 per cent.
While private sector complaints took up 72 per cent, those related to government departments and public bodies accounted for 23 per cent and 6 per cent respectively (Note 1). In the private sector, the three industries attracting most complaints were Building Management, Finance and Insurance, and the Construction Industry.
Last year, the crackdown of the biggest corruption case over building maintenance and the swift prosecution of 23 persons had caused the industry to be more vigilant and heighted public awareness, giving rise to 544 related complaints which represented a 30 per cent increase, Chairman Chan added.
In recent years, the ICAC forged stronger collaborations with various financial regulators, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Insurance Authority last year to take joint action over the fight against corruption and misconduct in the financial market. Noting that various large-scale infrastructure projects are in the pipeline and the persistent labour shortages in the construction industry, the ICAC would remain vigilant in monitoring corruption risks in the industry, particularly those related to public works and bribery for job referral.
On the prevention front, Chairman Wong noted that the ICAC adopted an early input approach to government’s new initiatives, such as providing early corruption prevention advice over primary healthcare blueprint and light public housing. The Commission also actively assisted government departments and public bodies to embrace technology for enhancing anti-corruption capabilities, including the launch of “Corruption Prevention Guide – Corruption Prevention through Digitalisation”. Trainings to equip senior civil servants’ anti-corruption abilities by using technology were also in the pipeline.
In the previous year, the ICAC completed 71 assignment reports and provided corruption prevention advice for government departments and other organisations on 2,083 occasions. The Commission also launched prevention guides for building management, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), banking and law firms to enhance corruption prevention capability and corporate governance in the private sector.
On the education front, Chairman Ho remarked that the ICAC had rolled out a series of running and walking events under the theme “Fighting Corruption: The Mission Continues” to engage members of the public and remind them despite challenges, the ICAC remained committed to the fight against corruption.
The Commission had also introduced the ICAC’s Kids Classroom to instil positive values such as honesty and fairness to students of kindergarteners and parents through visiting the ICAC Building and storytelling activities. Aspiring young people were equipped to become future leaders with integrity, as well as a strong sense of national identity, global vision and rule of law under the ICAC ELITE Youth Leadership Programme.
To tie in with the Government’s labour importation schemes for different sectors, the ICAC had promptly drawn up and implemented an education and publicity plan to help new comers familiarise with the anti-corruption laws of Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, all four Chairmen endorsed the ICAC’s work plan and publicity strategies for the first large-scale territory-wide election following the improved district governance and the reformed District Councils, which smoothly took place in December last year.
Chairman Chan noted that on polling day, over 900 ICAC officers were deployed to polling stations across the territory to help ensure the election would be conducted in a fair, just, clean, safe and orderly manner. Seven individuals were arrested for allegedly inciting others not to vote, to cast blank or invalid vote, by activity in public during election period, and two of them were swiftly charged.
Chairman Ho added that as Area Committees, District Fight Crime Committees and District Fire Safety Committees played significant roles in the election, the ICAC had launched a multi-faceted education and publicity campaign to help members and stakeholders to better understand the electoral law. Chairman Wong also noted that the Commission provided advice on Election-related Activities and polling arrangements for the election held last year.
Looking forward, the four advisory committees support the ICAC’s continued efforts to further expand collaborations with more anti-corruption and relevant agencies around the globe to build a clean silk road and a graft-free world. Locally, the Commission would ride on its golden jubilee to showcase Hong Kong’s edge and continue to foster integrity education in the community and to young people. It will also continue to assist public and private sectors to enhance their corruption prevention capabilities and strengthen corruption prevention system and governance of NGOs, building management, listed companies and large-scale infrastructure projects.
Note 1: Individual percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.