Close partnership and commitment keys to building up clean HK police, says ICAC Commissioner
2003-11-8
A partnership approach, a robust three-pronged strategy of tackling corruption, and the commitment of Police management were the keys to Hong Kong’s success in building up a clean Police Force, Mr Raymond Wong Hung-chiu, the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), yesterday (Friday) told an international conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Addressing a plenary session on “Tackling Police Corruption” at the Conference entitled “Policing the Police: the Challenges”, Mr Wong remarked that the one-time syndicated corruption in the Hong Kong Police Force was history.
He noted that there had been a gradual drop in corruption complaints against police officers, from 45 per cent in 1974 to about 30 per cent in 1984, and more recently down to less than 15 per cent of all complaints received by the ICAC.
In the past few years, complaints against police officers averaged 12 per cent of all corruption complaints.
“Over the years, we have established a number of communication channels to enhance mutual understanding and co-operation at different levels, on operational and corruption preventive matters,” he said.
The ICAC Commissioner meets the Commissioner of Police regularly to discuss issues of mutual concern. There is also a Police/ICAC Operational Liaison Group where senior officers from both sides exchange information about joint cases, discuss trends in co rruption and crime, as well as review and improve communication channels.
On the preventive front, the ICAC’s Corruption Prevention Department and senior Police management meet regularly to identify corruption-prone areas for the ICAC to review, Mr Wong noted.
“In the past 10 years, the Department has conducted over 50 reviews of Police procedures and practices to minimize opportunities for corruption. With the growth in mutual trust over the years, the ICAC has progressed from routine studies to more sensitive assignments, covering areas such as crime investigation, anti-narcotics and anti-vice actions, and handling of informers and covert operations.”
Mr Wong added that regular anti-corruption talks are now integrated in training programmes for all levels of the Force, from new recruits to senior officers. In the past three years, half of the police officers have been reached.
“Adopting a policy of zero tolerance, the Force has passed more than 130 corruption reports against its officers to the ICAC for follow-up action over the years,” he said.
“The Force Anti-Corruption Strategy Steering Committee, a high-powered committee made up of directorate officers from all branches of the Police Force and the ICAC, has developed ongoing strategies that ensure Hong Kong enjoys a clean and professional law enforcement agency,” Mr Wong said.
On the international front, the Commissioner stressed that Hong Kong was eager to share its unique graft fighting experience with communities that still lived under the burden of corruption.
As a founding member of the Interpol Group of Experts on Corruption (IGEC), the ICAC could help advise its 181 member countries on anti-corruption programmes.
Mr Wong is currently on an official visit in Europe. Earlier on he had visited London and called on the New Scotland Yard, the London Metropolitan Police, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the Committee for Standards in Public Life of the UK House of Commons, and the Financial Services Agency.
After attending the Conference, Mr Wong will depart for Paris to meet officers of the Central Agency for Prevention of Corruption under the Ministry of Justice, France; and the Anti-corruption Division of the Directorate for Financial, Fiscal and Enterpri se Affairs under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Mr Wong will return to Hong Kong on November 12, 2003. Accompanying Mr Wong on his visit is Mr Gilbert Chan Tak-shing, ICAC’s Director of Investigation (Government Sector).
Addressing a plenary session on “Tackling Police Corruption” at the Conference entitled “Policing the Police: the Challenges”, Mr Wong remarked that the one-time syndicated corruption in the Hong Kong Police Force was history.
He noted that there had been a gradual drop in corruption complaints against police officers, from 45 per cent in 1974 to about 30 per cent in 1984, and more recently down to less than 15 per cent of all complaints received by the ICAC.
In the past few years, complaints against police officers averaged 12 per cent of all corruption complaints.
“Over the years, we have established a number of communication channels to enhance mutual understanding and co-operation at different levels, on operational and corruption preventive matters,” he said.
The ICAC Commissioner meets the Commissioner of Police regularly to discuss issues of mutual concern. There is also a Police/ICAC Operational Liaison Group where senior officers from both sides exchange information about joint cases, discuss trends in co rruption and crime, as well as review and improve communication channels.
On the preventive front, the ICAC’s Corruption Prevention Department and senior Police management meet regularly to identify corruption-prone areas for the ICAC to review, Mr Wong noted.
“In the past 10 years, the Department has conducted over 50 reviews of Police procedures and practices to minimize opportunities for corruption. With the growth in mutual trust over the years, the ICAC has progressed from routine studies to more sensitive assignments, covering areas such as crime investigation, anti-narcotics and anti-vice actions, and handling of informers and covert operations.”
Mr Wong added that regular anti-corruption talks are now integrated in training programmes for all levels of the Force, from new recruits to senior officers. In the past three years, half of the police officers have been reached.
“Adopting a policy of zero tolerance, the Force has passed more than 130 corruption reports against its officers to the ICAC for follow-up action over the years,” he said.
“The Force Anti-Corruption Strategy Steering Committee, a high-powered committee made up of directorate officers from all branches of the Police Force and the ICAC, has developed ongoing strategies that ensure Hong Kong enjoys a clean and professional law enforcement agency,” Mr Wong said.
On the international front, the Commissioner stressed that Hong Kong was eager to share its unique graft fighting experience with communities that still lived under the burden of corruption.
As a founding member of the Interpol Group of Experts on Corruption (IGEC), the ICAC could help advise its 181 member countries on anti-corruption programmes.
Mr Wong is currently on an official visit in Europe. Earlier on he had visited London and called on the New Scotland Yard, the London Metropolitan Police, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the Committee for Standards in Public Life of the UK House of Commons, and the Financial Services Agency.
After attending the Conference, Mr Wong will depart for Paris to meet officers of the Central Agency for Prevention of Corruption under the Ministry of Justice, France; and the Anti-corruption Division of the Directorate for Financial, Fiscal and Enterpri se Affairs under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Mr Wong will return to Hong Kong on November 12, 2003. Accompanying Mr Wong on his visit is Mr Gilbert Chan Tak-shing, ICAC’s Director of Investigation (Government Sector).