Interpol chief praises Hong Kong as the world's 'anti-corruption capitol'
2003-1-22
Secretary General of Interpol Mr Ronald K. Noble highly praised Hong Kong as "the anti-corruption capitol of the world" while speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the ICAC-Interpol Conference today (Wednesday).
Jointly organised by the ICAC and Interpol for the first time in Hong Kong, the three-day Conference, entitled " Partnership Against Corruption ", was opened by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning.
Mr Noble also rated Hong Kong's ICAC as "the No. 1 anti-corruption agency", with its holistic, three-pronged approach, focussing on investigation, prevention and education as the pillar on which successful anti-corruption initiatives were based.
Apart from allocation of resources for investigation, prevention, education and training, Mr Noble noted that success in anti-corruption work required dedicated, professional and well-trained personnel such as the ICAC.
Mr Noble also said: "If Hong Kong is one of the cleanest cities of the world in terms of its anti-corruption effort and reputation, then the Hong Kong Police is one of the cleanest and professional police forces in the world."
While noting that Interpol and the ICAC had developed a relationship of trust, Mr Noble highlighted the importance of building partnerships, which meant cooperation and liaison, and sharing of information and expertise, in the fight against corruption.
In delivering his welcoming remarks at the Conference, ICAC Commissioner Mr Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong noted that Interpol had been committed to advocating the importance of law enforcement integrity, and the adoption of an international approach in tackling t he problem of global corruption.
"In co-hosting this Conference with the Interpol, the ICAC recognises the Interpol's initiatives and contribution to the global partnership against corruption.”
Mr Lee said international assistance could be traced back to the early days of the ICAC when the Interpol provided valuable information on the whereabouts of a senior police officer, who had fled the territory while under investigation for corruption in t he 1970s.
This was a landmark case for the history of Hong Kong as it had led to the setting up of an independent anti-corruption agency in 1974, added Mr Lee.
Mr Lee also disclosed that in the past five years, the ICAC had already made 96 requests for assistance from Interpol, compared with 145 such requests in the decade prior to Hong Kong's re-unification with the Mainland. The trend showed a growing need fo r international efforts in corruption investigations.
Besides, with the support from Interpol and other agencies, the ICAC had over the years successfully extradited a total of 22 suspects back to Hong Kong to face trial.
"They all point to the fact that multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional partnership is the effective and right approach in fighting corruption today," ICAC Commissioner asserted.
More than 500 delegates from 61 jurisdictions and eight international organisations participate in the ICAC-Interpol Conference.
They include graft fighters, law enforcers, senior government officials, business leaders, academics as well as representatives from Asian Development Bank, European Commission, International Banking Security Association, International Federation of Phono graphic Industries, United Nations, World Customs Organisation, World Bank, and Interpol.
They will exchange their anti-corruption experience and explore latest strategies at the forum, which is to continue until Friday.
Jointly organised by the ICAC and Interpol for the first time in Hong Kong, the three-day Conference, entitled " Partnership Against Corruption ", was opened by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning.
Mr Noble also rated Hong Kong's ICAC as "the No. 1 anti-corruption agency", with its holistic, three-pronged approach, focussing on investigation, prevention and education as the pillar on which successful anti-corruption initiatives were based.
Apart from allocation of resources for investigation, prevention, education and training, Mr Noble noted that success in anti-corruption work required dedicated, professional and well-trained personnel such as the ICAC.
Mr Noble also said: "If Hong Kong is one of the cleanest cities of the world in terms of its anti-corruption effort and reputation, then the Hong Kong Police is one of the cleanest and professional police forces in the world."
While noting that Interpol and the ICAC had developed a relationship of trust, Mr Noble highlighted the importance of building partnerships, which meant cooperation and liaison, and sharing of information and expertise, in the fight against corruption.
In delivering his welcoming remarks at the Conference, ICAC Commissioner Mr Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong noted that Interpol had been committed to advocating the importance of law enforcement integrity, and the adoption of an international approach in tackling t he problem of global corruption.
"In co-hosting this Conference with the Interpol, the ICAC recognises the Interpol's initiatives and contribution to the global partnership against corruption.”
Mr Lee said international assistance could be traced back to the early days of the ICAC when the Interpol provided valuable information on the whereabouts of a senior police officer, who had fled the territory while under investigation for corruption in t he 1970s.
This was a landmark case for the history of Hong Kong as it had led to the setting up of an independent anti-corruption agency in 1974, added Mr Lee.
Mr Lee also disclosed that in the past five years, the ICAC had already made 96 requests for assistance from Interpol, compared with 145 such requests in the decade prior to Hong Kong's re-unification with the Mainland. The trend showed a growing need fo r international efforts in corruption investigations.
Besides, with the support from Interpol and other agencies, the ICAC had over the years successfully extradited a total of 22 suspects back to Hong Kong to face trial.
"They all point to the fact that multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional partnership is the effective and right approach in fighting corruption today," ICAC Commissioner asserted.
More than 500 delegates from 61 jurisdictions and eight international organisations participate in the ICAC-Interpol Conference.
They include graft fighters, law enforcers, senior government officials, business leaders, academics as well as representatives from Asian Development Bank, European Commission, International Banking Security Association, International Federation of Phono graphic Industries, United Nations, World Customs Organisation, World Bank, and Interpol.
They will exchange their anti-corruption experience and explore latest strategies at the forum, which is to continue until Friday.