ICAC to nurture highly professional graft fighters in face of new challenges
2004-2-15
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will strive to build a highly effective and professional team of graft busters, and upgrade its facilities as the Commission enters its 30th year of operation.
Speaking at a ceremony to kick off a series of 30th Anniversary programmes today (Sunday), ICAC Commissioner Raymond Wong Hung-chiu pledged that the Commission would continue its fight against corruption without fear or favour.
He also noted that the rapid advancement in information technology and economic globalisation in recent years had posed new challenges to combating corruption, which had always been no easy task.
To meet these challenges, the ICAC would continue to enhance training and upgrade its equipment despite stringent resources.
Mr Wong looked forward to the completion of the new ICAC headquarters building to provide enhanced facilities for investigation, training and IT support.
"Today, Hong Kong is internationally recognised as a clean society with a level playing field for doing business.
"In my view, one of the Commission's most significant contributions over the years is the change of people's attitude towards corruption from acceptance to intolerance," said Mr Wong.
He said polls in recent years had shown that people did not tolerate corruption in both the public and private sectors.
"The 2003 ICAC annual survey found that 99.3 per cent of respondents said the ICAC deserved their support, the highest percentage recorded," Mr Wong added.
The increase of the proportion of non-anonymous reports received by the Commission from over 30 per cent in 1974 to 72 per cent last year also reflected people's growing confidence in the ICAC.
Since its establishment, the ICAC has received a total of 87,144 corruption reports, with 54,563 cases classified as pursuable. In recent years, the conviction rate stands high at an average of 80 per cent, despite consistently heavy caseload.
Since 1974, the Corruption Prevention Department has conducted more than 2,700 assignment studies to assist various government departments and public bodies to plug corruption loopholes.
Mr Wong said syndicated corruption once common in government departments had been eradicated, and complaints against the civil service in recent years had dropped to over 30 per cent of the total.
To mark its 30th Anniversary and to enhance public support, the ICAC is launching a series of community-based activities within the year.
Apart from the Open Day held today and next Sunday (February 22), the ICAC will be launching new TV and radio commercials.
The commercials feature a hawker's life in the past 30 years to highlight the transformation of Hong Kong into a clean society. The slogan “ Hong Kong. Our advantage is the ICAC. ” will be used in the commercials.
Other upcoming 30th anniversary activities include: ICAC TV Drama 2004 to be broadcast in May, an exhibition at Central Library to be held in June, a commemorative publication to be published in September, and a community walk towards the end of the year.
Also officiating at today's ceremony were Dr Raymond Chi'en Kuo-fung, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption; Dr Andrew Chuang Siu-leung, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee; and Mr Barry Cheung Chun-yuen, Chairman of the Corruption Prev ention Advisory Committee.
ICAC's Head of Operations, Mr Daniel Li Ming-chak; Director of Corruption Prevention, Mr Thomas Chan Chi-sun; Acting Director of Community Relations, Ms Julie Mu Fee-man; and Assistant Director of Administration, Mrs Betty Chu Fu Kam-lui, also joined the ceremony.
Speaking at a ceremony to kick off a series of 30th Anniversary programmes today (Sunday), ICAC Commissioner Raymond Wong Hung-chiu pledged that the Commission would continue its fight against corruption without fear or favour.
He also noted that the rapid advancement in information technology and economic globalisation in recent years had posed new challenges to combating corruption, which had always been no easy task.
To meet these challenges, the ICAC would continue to enhance training and upgrade its equipment despite stringent resources.
Mr Wong looked forward to the completion of the new ICAC headquarters building to provide enhanced facilities for investigation, training and IT support.
"Today, Hong Kong is internationally recognised as a clean society with a level playing field for doing business.
"In my view, one of the Commission's most significant contributions over the years is the change of people's attitude towards corruption from acceptance to intolerance," said Mr Wong.
He said polls in recent years had shown that people did not tolerate corruption in both the public and private sectors.
"The 2003 ICAC annual survey found that 99.3 per cent of respondents said the ICAC deserved their support, the highest percentage recorded," Mr Wong added.
The increase of the proportion of non-anonymous reports received by the Commission from over 30 per cent in 1974 to 72 per cent last year also reflected people's growing confidence in the ICAC.
Since its establishment, the ICAC has received a total of 87,144 corruption reports, with 54,563 cases classified as pursuable. In recent years, the conviction rate stands high at an average of 80 per cent, despite consistently heavy caseload.
Since 1974, the Corruption Prevention Department has conducted more than 2,700 assignment studies to assist various government departments and public bodies to plug corruption loopholes.
Mr Wong said syndicated corruption once common in government departments had been eradicated, and complaints against the civil service in recent years had dropped to over 30 per cent of the total.
To mark its 30th Anniversary and to enhance public support, the ICAC is launching a series of community-based activities within the year.
Apart from the Open Day held today and next Sunday (February 22), the ICAC will be launching new TV and radio commercials.
The commercials feature a hawker's life in the past 30 years to highlight the transformation of Hong Kong into a clean society. The slogan “ Hong Kong. Our advantage is the ICAC. ” will be used in the commercials.
Other upcoming 30th anniversary activities include: ICAC TV Drama 2004 to be broadcast in May, an exhibition at Central Library to be held in June, a commemorative publication to be published in September, and a community walk towards the end of the year.
Also officiating at today's ceremony were Dr Raymond Chi'en Kuo-fung, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption; Dr Andrew Chuang Siu-leung, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee; and Mr Barry Cheung Chun-yuen, Chairman of the Corruption Prev ention Advisory Committee.
ICAC's Head of Operations, Mr Daniel Li Ming-chak; Director of Corruption Prevention, Mr Thomas Chan Chi-sun; Acting Director of Community Relations, Ms Julie Mu Fee-man; and Assistant Director of Administration, Mrs Betty Chu Fu Kam-lui, also joined the ceremony.