Clean government and a level playing field are key to Hong Kong's success, says ICAC Commissioner
2007-2-21
A clean and efficient government, a level playing field for businesses, effective institutional watchdogs and the rule of law are among the key factors contributing to Hong Kong's success, according to ICAC Commissioner, Mrs Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun.
Speaking at the luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Association in London yesterday (February 20), Mrs Law noted that Hong Kong was rated the freest economy for the 13th consecutive year in 2007 and widely recognised as one of the cleanest places in the worl d over.
Taking stock of the development in the decade since the reunification, Mrs Law said Hong Kong people have emerged from a series of crises "much stronger, more resilient and better equipped to face the challenges ahead".
Updating the audience of the corruption situation in Hong Kong, Mrs Law said the ICAC received an annual average of 3,500 corruption reports in the past 10 years.
In 2006, the ICAC received about 3,300 corruption reports, of which 73 per cent were non-anonymous. The conviction rate reached a record high of 88 per cent.
Among the corruption reports received last year, 61 per cent related to private businesses, compared with 50 per cent in 1997.
"We have good reasons to believe that the growing number of private sector corruption reports is a reflection of reduced tolerance, hence increased reporting," Mrs Law added.
On the contrary, the number of corruption reports against government departments dropped to around 1,000 last year, the lowest since 1997.
Corruption reports against the Police also dropped significantly from over 40 per cent of the total corruption reports in the 1970s to nine per cent in 2006.
On challenges facing Hong Kong in upholding integrity, Mrs Law said that increased international cooperation was needed to combat corruption, which has become transnational.
She added that Hong Kong maintained an effective global network of overseas anti-corruption agencies, and has signed 21 mutual legal assistance agreements and 16 extradition agreements.
In February last year, the Mainland ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the first global and most comprehensive legal instrument on anti-corruption, which was also applied to Hong Kong.
Mrs Law also said Hong Kong was well-positioned to support foreign investors in doing business in the Mainland, and the ICAC would update the corruption prevention guidebook for cross-boundary businessmen to reflect the latest anti-corruption laws and reg ulations on the Mainland.
"The ICAC will continue to play the role of the guardian of justice and a champion of ethical practices, and protect Hong Kong's hard-earned reputation of the 'anti-corruption capital of the world'," she concluded.
During her stay in London, Mrs Law visited the Metropolitan Police Service at the New Scotland Yard to exchange experience in anti-corruption initiatives, training and recruitment.
She also paid visits to the Police Crime Academy and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
Mrs Law will leave for Amsterdam later today to attend "The World Cities Conference on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity" and make a presentation on the local integrity system of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is the only Asian city being invited to share its integrity building experience at the two-day conference. Other participants include senior officials from Amsterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, London, New South Wales and New York, experts from internat ional organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations as well as academics.
In her presentation, Mrs Law will expound on the key pillars of Hong Kong's integrity system, which is built on the solid foundation of a strong and comprehensive anti-corruption regime.
These pillars include a transparent and clean administration; an open and fair electoral system; the rule of law and an independent judiciary; various effective institutional watchdogs including the ICAC; and a vigorous civil society featuring free press and a vigilant public sharing core values of fairness and integrity.
Speaking at the luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Association in London yesterday (February 20), Mrs Law noted that Hong Kong was rated the freest economy for the 13th consecutive year in 2007 and widely recognised as one of the cleanest places in the worl d over.
Taking stock of the development in the decade since the reunification, Mrs Law said Hong Kong people have emerged from a series of crises "much stronger, more resilient and better equipped to face the challenges ahead".
Updating the audience of the corruption situation in Hong Kong, Mrs Law said the ICAC received an annual average of 3,500 corruption reports in the past 10 years.
In 2006, the ICAC received about 3,300 corruption reports, of which 73 per cent were non-anonymous. The conviction rate reached a record high of 88 per cent.
Among the corruption reports received last year, 61 per cent related to private businesses, compared with 50 per cent in 1997.
"We have good reasons to believe that the growing number of private sector corruption reports is a reflection of reduced tolerance, hence increased reporting," Mrs Law added.
On the contrary, the number of corruption reports against government departments dropped to around 1,000 last year, the lowest since 1997.
Corruption reports against the Police also dropped significantly from over 40 per cent of the total corruption reports in the 1970s to nine per cent in 2006.
On challenges facing Hong Kong in upholding integrity, Mrs Law said that increased international cooperation was needed to combat corruption, which has become transnational.
She added that Hong Kong maintained an effective global network of overseas anti-corruption agencies, and has signed 21 mutual legal assistance agreements and 16 extradition agreements.
In February last year, the Mainland ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the first global and most comprehensive legal instrument on anti-corruption, which was also applied to Hong Kong.
Mrs Law also said Hong Kong was well-positioned to support foreign investors in doing business in the Mainland, and the ICAC would update the corruption prevention guidebook for cross-boundary businessmen to reflect the latest anti-corruption laws and reg ulations on the Mainland.
"The ICAC will continue to play the role of the guardian of justice and a champion of ethical practices, and protect Hong Kong's hard-earned reputation of the 'anti-corruption capital of the world'," she concluded.
During her stay in London, Mrs Law visited the Metropolitan Police Service at the New Scotland Yard to exchange experience in anti-corruption initiatives, training and recruitment.
She also paid visits to the Police Crime Academy and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
Mrs Law will leave for Amsterdam later today to attend "The World Cities Conference on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity" and make a presentation on the local integrity system of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is the only Asian city being invited to share its integrity building experience at the two-day conference. Other participants include senior officials from Amsterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, London, New South Wales and New York, experts from internat ional organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations as well as academics.
In her presentation, Mrs Law will expound on the key pillars of Hong Kong's integrity system, which is built on the solid foundation of a strong and comprehensive anti-corruption regime.
These pillars include a transparent and clean administration; an open and fair electoral system; the rule of law and an independent judiciary; various effective institutional watchdogs including the ICAC; and a vigorous civil society featuring free press and a vigilant public sharing core values of fairness and integrity.