Response Statement
2004-10-20
In response to press enquiries about Hong Kong's ranking in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by the Transparency International (TI) today (Wednesday), an ICAC spokesman noted that in this year's index, Hong Kong continued to be perceived as the second least corrupt place in Asia.
"In terms of actual scores, Hong Kong scored 8.0 out of a clean score of 10. In this survey which polled 146 places, only 16 registered a high score of 8.0 or above."
This year the total number of places polled has increased to 146 from 133 last year.
"Despite a slight change in the global ranking from 14th last year to 16th this year, Hong Kong's actual score remains unchanged.
"It reflects a consistently low level of perceived corruption in the territory."
The spokesman added that the CPI was a 'poll of polls', which reflected the perception of the level of corruption, rather than the actual corruption situation, in a place.
The spokesman stressed that corruption was under control in Hong Kong.
"In fact, there has been a decrease in the number of graft reports received by the Commission so far this year.
"While the result of this survey will be taken as a reference, we would continue to remain vigilant and closely monitor the corruption situation in Hong Kong."
The spokesman also pledged that through a three-pronged approach –'96 law enforcement, prevention and education, the ICAC would make every effort to ensure that Hong Kong would continue to have a clean civil service and a level-playing field.
"In terms of actual scores, Hong Kong scored 8.0 out of a clean score of 10. In this survey which polled 146 places, only 16 registered a high score of 8.0 or above."
This year the total number of places polled has increased to 146 from 133 last year.
"Despite a slight change in the global ranking from 14th last year to 16th this year, Hong Kong's actual score remains unchanged.
"It reflects a consistently low level of perceived corruption in the territory."
The spokesman added that the CPI was a 'poll of polls', which reflected the perception of the level of corruption, rather than the actual corruption situation, in a place.
The spokesman stressed that corruption was under control in Hong Kong.
"In fact, there has been a decrease in the number of graft reports received by the Commission so far this year.
"While the result of this survey will be taken as a reference, we would continue to remain vigilant and closely monitor the corruption situation in Hong Kong."
The spokesman also pledged that through a three-pronged approach –'96 law enforcement, prevention and education, the ICAC would make every effort to ensure that Hong Kong would continue to have a clean civil service and a level-playing field.