According to a survey released by the Control Risks Group on Monday, 76% of the 50 Hong Kong companies polled said that they believed they had lost business in the last five years because a competitor had paid a bribe.

In order to better understand the meaning of the survey finding, the ICAC had subsequently contacted the Control Risks based in London for more detailed information.

The Group's consultant clarified that the respondents were “primarily referring to encountering corruption when doing business in other places/countries” outside Hong Kong as the survey was concerned with “international business transactions”.

The consultant also pointed out that it was misleading to refer Hong Kong as a "corrupt market place". "That is not what the respondents were saying."

An ICAC spokesman reiterates that the Commission will continue to combat corruption vigorously and effectively through investigation, prevention and education.

"The public can rest assured that every effort will be made to ensure Hong Kong will remain a clean city with a clean government and a level playing field for doing business."