Stepped-up exchanges between anti-corruption authorities in Hong Kong and Shanghai will surely reinforce their common efforts in fighting corruption, the ICAC Commissioner, Mr Alan Lai, said today (Monday).

Mr Lai made the remarks in his welcome to the Deputy Procurator of the Shanghai Municipal People's Procuratorate (SMPP), Mr Tang Zhoushao, who began his five-day visit in Hong Kong today.

Mr Lai was pleased to disclose that the ICAC and SMPP were working together to produce an anti corruption guidebook for businessmen operating in the two cities.

During his visit to the ICAC today, Mr Tang said since 1995, there had been exchange visits between the ICAC and SMPP to share views and information on each other's anti corruption efforts.

He added that the anti-corruption guidebook was expected to be released in the middle of this year. It was the fruition of continuing co-operation and exchanges between the two agencies.

Mr Tang also toured various facilities of the ICAC and was briefed by Head of Operations Mr Tony Kwok Man-wai, Director of Corruption Prevention Mr Thomas Chan Chi-sun and Director of Community Relations Mrs Susan Mak Lok Suet-ling on the latest developme nts of the Commission's work.

Under a Government's sponsored visit programme, Mr Tang will also visit other policy bureaux and government departments during his stay in Hong Kong.