Hong Kong's young people do not tolerate corruption, says ICAC Commissioner
2003-3-1
Hong Kong's young people were found to be highly intolerant of corruption as revealed by a latest opinion poll, ICAC Commissioner Mr Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong said today (Saturday).
Speaking after the opening ceremony of the Youth Summit –'96 “ Corporate Governance for the New Generation ”, Mr Lee noted that the finding reflected a high degree of awareness against corruption amongst our younger generation.
ICAC Annual Survey 2002 found that young people aged between 15 and 24 showed a mean score of 1.4 and 2 respectively towards corruption in government departments and the business sector.
In the survey, a 10-point scale was used to assess the level of public tolerance of corruption, with 0 representing total rejection and 10 total tolerance.
Mr Lee added that amongst those prosecuted by the ICAC in recent years, young citizens only constituted a very small proportion.
In the past three years, of over 1,600 persons prosecuted by the ICAC, only about 6 per cent were aged 25 or below.
While stressing that there was no room for complacency, Mr Lee called upon the young generation to build their careers on the foundation of good corporate governance and sound ethical management.
Addressing over 600 tertiary students from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Macau and Singapore at the Youth Summit this morning, Mr Lee noted that as the world and the economy were changing rapidly, people were under enormous pressure to deliver results and cons tantly tempted to resort to corrupt practices in order to achieve targets.
Mr Lee pointed out that since the Asian financial turmoil, a number of professionals, managers or senior staff were found to be involved in corruption and commercial fraud cases investigated by the ICAC.
“In these cases, we observed that a lack of sound corporate management and a low personal ethics awareness would help breed graft and fraud opportunities,” he added.
Mr Lee also said the ICAC had been actively promoting ethics in all tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, especially in the professional and business related faculties. For example, Ethics Portfolios were produced to facilitate university lecturers in inco rporating ethical elements into their teaching materials.
Mr Lee added that the ICAC would step up its co-operation with strategic partners in providing the platform and opportunities for nurturing positive values in young people.
At today’s Summit, Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang delivered an opening address after officiating at a lighting ceremony, together with Mr Lee and Chairman of the programme organising committee, Mr Moses Cheng.
The Youth Summit is the climax of a Youth Study Programme jointly organised by the ICAC, youth organisations, professional bodies and tertiary institutions.
The study programme has attracted 165 teams of tertiary students from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Macau and Singapore to take part. Under the programme, the students researched into various topics, including "corporate governance and personal ethics”, “corporate governance in practice”, and “benefits of corporate governance”.
Eleven outstanding teams of the study programme, including Fudan University, Tsinghua University and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics on the Mainland, were given awards at the Summit. They also presented their studies on corporate governa nce and exchanged views with other participants.
Also addressing the Youth Summit, Mr Moses Cheng noted that while Asian young people were known for their diligence, adaptability and resilience, they must also adhere to a high standard of personal integrity and ethical practice in pursuing their careers .
Today's Youth Summit also featured a keynote speech by Senior Counsel Mr Anthony Neoh.
Meanwhile, nine local and overseas celebrities from various trades shared their views and experiences on corporate governance with participating students at a number of workshops.
They are: Mr John Lim of the Singapore Institute of Directors; Mr Roger Luk of the Hang Seng Bank Limited; Mr David Sun of the HK Society of Accountants; Mr Philip Chen of the Cathay Pacific Airways Limited; Mrs Betty Yuen of the CLP Power Hong Kong Limit ed; Dr Zhang Weiguo of the China Securities Regulatory Commission; Mr Chew Fook-aun of the Kerry Properties Limited; and Mr Herbert Hui and Mr Edward Chow from the HK Institute of Directors.
Speaking after the opening ceremony of the Youth Summit –'96 “ Corporate Governance for the New Generation ”, Mr Lee noted that the finding reflected a high degree of awareness against corruption amongst our younger generation.
ICAC Annual Survey 2002 found that young people aged between 15 and 24 showed a mean score of 1.4 and 2 respectively towards corruption in government departments and the business sector.
In the survey, a 10-point scale was used to assess the level of public tolerance of corruption, with 0 representing total rejection and 10 total tolerance.
Mr Lee added that amongst those prosecuted by the ICAC in recent years, young citizens only constituted a very small proportion.
In the past three years, of over 1,600 persons prosecuted by the ICAC, only about 6 per cent were aged 25 or below.
While stressing that there was no room for complacency, Mr Lee called upon the young generation to build their careers on the foundation of good corporate governance and sound ethical management.
Addressing over 600 tertiary students from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Macau and Singapore at the Youth Summit this morning, Mr Lee noted that as the world and the economy were changing rapidly, people were under enormous pressure to deliver results and cons tantly tempted to resort to corrupt practices in order to achieve targets.
Mr Lee pointed out that since the Asian financial turmoil, a number of professionals, managers or senior staff were found to be involved in corruption and commercial fraud cases investigated by the ICAC.
“In these cases, we observed that a lack of sound corporate management and a low personal ethics awareness would help breed graft and fraud opportunities,” he added.
Mr Lee also said the ICAC had been actively promoting ethics in all tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, especially in the professional and business related faculties. For example, Ethics Portfolios were produced to facilitate university lecturers in inco rporating ethical elements into their teaching materials.
Mr Lee added that the ICAC would step up its co-operation with strategic partners in providing the platform and opportunities for nurturing positive values in young people.
At today’s Summit, Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang delivered an opening address after officiating at a lighting ceremony, together with Mr Lee and Chairman of the programme organising committee, Mr Moses Cheng.
The Youth Summit is the climax of a Youth Study Programme jointly organised by the ICAC, youth organisations, professional bodies and tertiary institutions.
The study programme has attracted 165 teams of tertiary students from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Macau and Singapore to take part. Under the programme, the students researched into various topics, including "corporate governance and personal ethics”, “corporate governance in practice”, and “benefits of corporate governance”.
Eleven outstanding teams of the study programme, including Fudan University, Tsinghua University and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics on the Mainland, were given awards at the Summit. They also presented their studies on corporate governa nce and exchanged views with other participants.
Also addressing the Youth Summit, Mr Moses Cheng noted that while Asian young people were known for their diligence, adaptability and resilience, they must also adhere to a high standard of personal integrity and ethical practice in pursuing their careers .
Today's Youth Summit also featured a keynote speech by Senior Counsel Mr Anthony Neoh.
Meanwhile, nine local and overseas celebrities from various trades shared their views and experiences on corporate governance with participating students at a number of workshops.
They are: Mr John Lim of the Singapore Institute of Directors; Mr Roger Luk of the Hang Seng Bank Limited; Mr David Sun of the HK Society of Accountants; Mr Philip Chen of the Cathay Pacific Airways Limited; Mrs Betty Yuen of the CLP Power Hong Kong Limit ed; Dr Zhang Weiguo of the China Securities Regulatory Commission; Mr Chew Fook-aun of the Kerry Properties Limited; and Mr Herbert Hui and Mr Edward Chow from the HK Institute of Directors.