ICAC seminar to boost professional ethics in construction industry
2001-5-15
The ICAC Commissioner, Alan Lai Nin, today (Tuesday) called on the construction industry to take a critical look at its operations and to introduce reforms to ensure that the industry could move forward with greater efficiency and pride.
Speaking at the close of the “Construction 2001 － Drive for Quality” Seminar, Mr Lai said: “ I believe the course of change has been set and the practitioners of the industry are well aware that construction quality goes hand in hand with integrity.”
He pledged to join hands with the construction industry to achieve quality management and adopt best practices to minimise corruption opportunities within the trade.
In his address to some 180 senior executives and professionals in the construction industry, Mr Lai said the construction industry was one of the pillars of Hong Kong’s economy and accounted for 5.8% of Hong Kong’s gross domestic product in 2000.
“The industry’s determination in its continued pursuit of construction quality is vital for the sustainable development of Hong Kong,” he said.
The Seminar today was organised by the ICAC and co-sponsored by the Hong Kong Housing Authority, The Hong Kong Construction Association, The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, t he Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong and the Works Bureau.
In his opening speech to the Seminar, Secretary for Works Lee Shing-see
said the Works Bureau would work closely with the ICAC to promote the ethical commitment and probity requirements for consultants and contractors.
“Public works consultants, contractors, and suppliers will be required to plead for probity by submitting the approved company codes of ethics and codes of conduct for their staff,” remarked Mr. Lee.
He added that the Bureau was reviewing with the ICAC the consultant selection and administration system, and would reinforce the corruption resistant systems and procedures.
Other keynote speakers at the seminar included Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Authority Cheng Hon-kwan; Director of Buildings Leung Chin-man; President of the Hong Kong Construction Association, Billy Wong, and Director of Consulting of the St. James E thics Center Margareta Hart-Hui.
Chief Project Manager of the Singapore Housing Development Board, Low Seng Poh, delivered a luncheon speech on their experience in managing building contracts.
In April last year, the ICAC set up a task force comprising representatives of the Operations Department, the Corruption Prevention Department and the Community Relations Department to provide more comprehensive and integrated corruption prevention servic es to the construction industry.
The task force has so far offered advice to more than 230 contractors and consultants in formulating company codes of ethics and codes of conduct for employees.
It is also working on a number of corruption case studies for use by universities and other organisations in the industry for training purpose.
The task force has also organised over 500 talks for the construction industry, reaching some 13,300 management personnel and employees in the industry.
Speaking at the close of the “Construction 2001 － Drive for Quality” Seminar, Mr Lai said: “ I believe the course of change has been set and the practitioners of the industry are well aware that construction quality goes hand in hand with integrity.”
He pledged to join hands with the construction industry to achieve quality management and adopt best practices to minimise corruption opportunities within the trade.
In his address to some 180 senior executives and professionals in the construction industry, Mr Lai said the construction industry was one of the pillars of Hong Kong’s economy and accounted for 5.8% of Hong Kong’s gross domestic product in 2000.
“The industry’s determination in its continued pursuit of construction quality is vital for the sustainable development of Hong Kong,” he said.
The Seminar today was organised by the ICAC and co-sponsored by the Hong Kong Housing Authority, The Hong Kong Construction Association, The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, t he Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong and the Works Bureau.
In his opening speech to the Seminar, Secretary for Works Lee Shing-see
said the Works Bureau would work closely with the ICAC to promote the ethical commitment and probity requirements for consultants and contractors.
“Public works consultants, contractors, and suppliers will be required to plead for probity by submitting the approved company codes of ethics and codes of conduct for their staff,” remarked Mr. Lee.
He added that the Bureau was reviewing with the ICAC the consultant selection and administration system, and would reinforce the corruption resistant systems and procedures.
Other keynote speakers at the seminar included Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Authority Cheng Hon-kwan; Director of Buildings Leung Chin-man; President of the Hong Kong Construction Association, Billy Wong, and Director of Consulting of the St. James E thics Center Margareta Hart-Hui.
Chief Project Manager of the Singapore Housing Development Board, Low Seng Poh, delivered a luncheon speech on their experience in managing building contracts.
In April last year, the ICAC set up a task force comprising representatives of the Operations Department, the Corruption Prevention Department and the Community Relations Department to provide more comprehensive and integrated corruption prevention servic es to the construction industry.
The task force has so far offered advice to more than 230 contractors and consultants in formulating company codes of ethics and codes of conduct for employees.
It is also working on a number of corruption case studies for use by universities and other organisations in the industry for training purpose.
The task force has also organised over 500 talks for the construction industry, reaching some 13,300 management personnel and employees in the industry.