'Combatting graft is like fighting SARS', says ICAC Commissioner
2003-6-28
Combatting corruption was like fighting SARS, as commitment, perseverance, vigilance and sufficient resources were needed for the protracted battle, ICAC Commissioner Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong remarked.
Although corruption did not pose a direct threat to our lives, it could be epidemic, causing tremendous damage to our community if we failed to come up with effective measures to keep it in check, Mr Lee added.
In his latest Commissioner Online column uploaded onto the ICAC website today (Saturday), Mr Lee revealed that in addressing two international anti-corruption conferences held in Korea last month, he had likened SARS fighting to the battle against corruption.
At the conferences, some delegates described Hong Kong's anti-graft story as a “legend”, as they were very impressed by Hong Kong’s success in cleaning up corruption in less than three decades, Mr Lee said.
Many delegates have requested to visit the ICAC, or invited ICAC officers to share graft-fighting experiences in their home countries.
"Our 'three-pronged approach' of law enforcement, prevention and education in combatting graft has been widely hailed as an effective strategy to weed out corruption,” said Mr Lee.
In recent years, some countries, such as Mauritius in Africa and Lithuania in Europe, had drawn on ICAC's experience in setting up their own anti-corruption agencies.
Meanwhile, the government had for the first time adopted a regional anti corruption programme –'96 the Anti-Corruption Action Plan for Asia Pacific launched by the Asian Development Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Mr Lee hoped that the ICAC could make further contribution to the combatting of cross boundary corruption through participation in such international programmes.
"Having a clean and just society for living and doing business is surely one of Hong Kong's distinct edges." The ICAC Commissioner urged the community to remain committed to maintaining this important ‘'91brand’ of Hong Kong.
The new Commissioner Online article has been uploaded onto the ICAC corporate website ( www.icac.org.hk ) for public access.
Although corruption did not pose a direct threat to our lives, it could be epidemic, causing tremendous damage to our community if we failed to come up with effective measures to keep it in check, Mr Lee added.
In his latest Commissioner Online column uploaded onto the ICAC website today (Saturday), Mr Lee revealed that in addressing two international anti-corruption conferences held in Korea last month, he had likened SARS fighting to the battle against corruption.
At the conferences, some delegates described Hong Kong's anti-graft story as a “legend”, as they were very impressed by Hong Kong’s success in cleaning up corruption in less than three decades, Mr Lee said.
Many delegates have requested to visit the ICAC, or invited ICAC officers to share graft-fighting experiences in their home countries.
"Our 'three-pronged approach' of law enforcement, prevention and education in combatting graft has been widely hailed as an effective strategy to weed out corruption,” said Mr Lee.
In recent years, some countries, such as Mauritius in Africa and Lithuania in Europe, had drawn on ICAC's experience in setting up their own anti-corruption agencies.
Meanwhile, the government had for the first time adopted a regional anti corruption programme –'96 the Anti-Corruption Action Plan for Asia Pacific launched by the Asian Development Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Mr Lee hoped that the ICAC could make further contribution to the combatting of cross boundary corruption through participation in such international programmes.
"Having a clean and just society for living and doing business is surely one of Hong Kong's distinct edges." The ICAC Commissioner urged the community to remain committed to maintaining this important ‘'91brand’ of Hong Kong.
The new Commissioner Online article has been uploaded onto the ICAC corporate website ( www.icac.org.hk ) for public access.