Effective law enforcement and international cooperation essential in the fight against corruption, says ICAC Commissioner
2006-10-23
Effective law enforcement and international cooperation were essential in the fight against corruption, which had become intermingled with serious and organised crimes and increasingly transnational in nature, said ICAC Commissioner, Mr Raymond Wong Hung- chiu.
Speaking at the First Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities held in Beijing today (Monday), Mr Wong shared Hong Kong's anti-corruption experience in light of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
Organized by the Mainland's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), the Conference provides a forum for about 1,000 delegates from over 100 countries to explore strategies and measures to effectively curb corruption under the context of UNCAC.
The Mainland Government ratified UNCAC late last year, and extended it to Hong Kong in February this year.
Mr Wong said Hong Kong was compliant with the UNCAC in having adopted strong legislation against corruption - the cornerstone upon which an independent anti-corruption authority should rely in the fight against corruption.
"Notwithstanding the strong legislation, we have kept corruption in check through a three-pronged strategy of investigation, prevention and community education.
"This strategy is in line with UNCAC which recognizes the need for adopting a comprehensive and multi-discipline approach in fighting corruption.
"Over the years, the strategy has helped maintain a clean civil service for Hong Kong and inspire the confidence of investors by assuring a level playing field in which to conduct business," he said.
Since the inception of the ICAC in 1974, the percentage of corruption complaints against government departments had dropped from 86% to 32% while complaints against the Police had dropped from 47% to 10%.
The public had placed great confidence in the ICAC's capability to deal with the crime, as evidenced from the record high of 73% of non-anonymous reports received this year, Mr Wong added.
By virtue of the mutual legal assistance scheme and formalised arrangements for the surrender of fugitive offenders, the ICAC also complied with the UNCAC in terms of international cooperation in fighting corruption.
"The ICAC is able to take actions against transnational corrupt activities with jurisdictions that have entered into bilateral agreements with Hong Kong under the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance," Mr Wong said.
Meanwhile, the HKSAR and the ICAC were in full support of the UNCAC in advocating international cooperation in fighting global corruption through the exchange of information, surrender of fugitive offenders and asset recovery.
Other ICAC officials attending the conference include Mr Ryan Wong Sai-chiu, Director of Investigation (Government Sector); Mrs Erika Hui Lam Yin-ming, Director of Community Relations; and Mrs Jean Au Yeung Lui Miu-kwan, Assistant Director of Corruption P revention.
Mr Ryan Wong will deliver a speech entitled " A Strategic Approach to Corruption Investigation " at the Conference tomorrow (Tuesday). The ICAC also contributed two written presentations to the Conference to share its experience in educating the public against corruption and managing conflict of interest in the public sector.
After participating in the Conference, Mr Raymond Wong would lead the ICAC delegation to visit the SPP, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Supervision, and the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing.
Speaking at the First Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities held in Beijing today (Monday), Mr Wong shared Hong Kong's anti-corruption experience in light of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
Organized by the Mainland's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), the Conference provides a forum for about 1,000 delegates from over 100 countries to explore strategies and measures to effectively curb corruption under the context of UNCAC.
The Mainland Government ratified UNCAC late last year, and extended it to Hong Kong in February this year.
Mr Wong said Hong Kong was compliant with the UNCAC in having adopted strong legislation against corruption - the cornerstone upon which an independent anti-corruption authority should rely in the fight against corruption.
"Notwithstanding the strong legislation, we have kept corruption in check through a three-pronged strategy of investigation, prevention and community education.
"This strategy is in line with UNCAC which recognizes the need for adopting a comprehensive and multi-discipline approach in fighting corruption.
"Over the years, the strategy has helped maintain a clean civil service for Hong Kong and inspire the confidence of investors by assuring a level playing field in which to conduct business," he said.
Since the inception of the ICAC in 1974, the percentage of corruption complaints against government departments had dropped from 86% to 32% while complaints against the Police had dropped from 47% to 10%.
The public had placed great confidence in the ICAC's capability to deal with the crime, as evidenced from the record high of 73% of non-anonymous reports received this year, Mr Wong added.
By virtue of the mutual legal assistance scheme and formalised arrangements for the surrender of fugitive offenders, the ICAC also complied with the UNCAC in terms of international cooperation in fighting corruption.
"The ICAC is able to take actions against transnational corrupt activities with jurisdictions that have entered into bilateral agreements with Hong Kong under the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance," Mr Wong said.
Meanwhile, the HKSAR and the ICAC were in full support of the UNCAC in advocating international cooperation in fighting global corruption through the exchange of information, surrender of fugitive offenders and asset recovery.
Other ICAC officials attending the conference include Mr Ryan Wong Sai-chiu, Director of Investigation (Government Sector); Mrs Erika Hui Lam Yin-ming, Director of Community Relations; and Mrs Jean Au Yeung Lui Miu-kwan, Assistant Director of Corruption P revention.
Mr Ryan Wong will deliver a speech entitled " A Strategic Approach to Corruption Investigation " at the Conference tomorrow (Tuesday). The ICAC also contributed two written presentations to the Conference to share its experience in educating the public against corruption and managing conflict of interest in the public sector.
After participating in the Conference, Mr Raymond Wong would lead the ICAC delegation to visit the SPP, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Supervision, and the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing.