HK’s comprehensive anti-corruption strategy fully reflects UN convention
2007-11-22
Hong Kong’s double-barreled strategy of fighting corruption through vigorous enforcement and prevention reflects the major principles and provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), said the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Aga inst Corruption (ICAC), Mr Timothy Tong Hin-ming today (Thursday) .
Mr Tong made the remarks in his keynote address at the Second Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) which commenced yesterday in Bali, Indonesia.
He said it was a great honour that the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, had in his opening address praised Hong Kong for its positive results in fighting corruption through years of relentless efforts and sustained dete rmination.
The overall anti-corruption regime in Hong Kong had already featured the key elements of the UNCAC: an independent status of its anti-graft agency, anti-corruption efforts encompassing both the public and private sectors as well as community involvement a nd support, Mr Tong noted.
He said that successful prosecutions had a strong deterrent effect, sending across the message that “Hong Kong has no tolerance for corruption”.
Last year, 341 persons were prosecuted for corruption and related crimes. Of the 302 persons convicted in the year, over 60 per cent received custodial sentences, some for over five years. The case-based conviction rate reached 88 per cent.
He also pointed out that some of the Hong Kong anti-corruption legislation was even more stringent than the UNCAC provisions.
For instance, the UNCAC outlaws the acceptance of an advantage in relation to the official business of a government officer. In Hong Kong, a government officer is prohibited by the law to solicit or accept an advantage, whether or not he returns any favo ur.
“Enforcement provides for an immediate cure, but the ultimate solution to the problem of corruption is in prevention,” Mr Tong said.
In Hong Kong, corruption prevention focused on three levels: 1) enhancing personal integrity; 2) promoting organizational integrity; and 3) ensuring the sustainability of a probity culture.
The ICAC makes continuous efforts to enhance the integrity of both the public and private sector employees through training and setting up codes of conduct.
To promote organisational integrity, the ICAC also helps public and private organizations strengthen their system controls based on the same principles of efficiency, transparency and objectivity underscored in the UNCAC.
The Commission had worked hand-in-hand with its partners in both sectors to make the probity culture sustainable. Through years of community education, the people of Hong Kong were now ready and willing to report corruption, Mr Tong said.
Last year, the ICAC received 3,339 corruption complaints, which meant one from every 2,000 citizens, Mr Tong said.
Over 70 per cent of the complainants were willing to give their names and identities - a strong indication of the trust they had in the ICAC.
Other ICAC officers attending the four-day conference include: Mr Francis Lee Chun-sang, Director of Investigation (Private Sector); Mr Ricky Chu Man-kin, Acting Director of Corruption Prevention; Ms Julie Mu Fee-man, Assistant Director of Community Relations and Mr Tse Man-shing, Assistant Director of Administration .
Mr Francis Lee and Mr Ricky Chu will speak respectively on effective and accountable anti-corruption enforcement actions and corruption prevention measures at the Conference tomorrow (Friday). Ms Mu and Mr Tse act as rapporteurs at the conference.
During the conference, Mr Tong also met with Mr Jia Chunwang, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and President of the IAACA.
The IAACA is set up with the objective to facilitate the implementation of the UNCAC through the exchanges and experience-sharing among anti-corruption agencies around the world.
The ICAC wishes to take this opportunity to share with the international community Hong Kong’s comprehensive strategy in tackling corruption and to demonstrate its support for this global anti-corruption initiative.
Mr Tong made the remarks in his keynote address at the Second Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) which commenced yesterday in Bali, Indonesia.
He said it was a great honour that the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, had in his opening address praised Hong Kong for its positive results in fighting corruption through years of relentless efforts and sustained dete rmination.
The overall anti-corruption regime in Hong Kong had already featured the key elements of the UNCAC: an independent status of its anti-graft agency, anti-corruption efforts encompassing both the public and private sectors as well as community involvement a nd support, Mr Tong noted.
He said that successful prosecutions had a strong deterrent effect, sending across the message that “Hong Kong has no tolerance for corruption”.
Last year, 341 persons were prosecuted for corruption and related crimes. Of the 302 persons convicted in the year, over 60 per cent received custodial sentences, some for over five years. The case-based conviction rate reached 88 per cent.
He also pointed out that some of the Hong Kong anti-corruption legislation was even more stringent than the UNCAC provisions.
For instance, the UNCAC outlaws the acceptance of an advantage in relation to the official business of a government officer. In Hong Kong, a government officer is prohibited by the law to solicit or accept an advantage, whether or not he returns any favo ur.
“Enforcement provides for an immediate cure, but the ultimate solution to the problem of corruption is in prevention,” Mr Tong said.
In Hong Kong, corruption prevention focused on three levels: 1) enhancing personal integrity; 2) promoting organizational integrity; and 3) ensuring the sustainability of a probity culture.
The ICAC makes continuous efforts to enhance the integrity of both the public and private sector employees through training and setting up codes of conduct.
To promote organisational integrity, the ICAC also helps public and private organizations strengthen their system controls based on the same principles of efficiency, transparency and objectivity underscored in the UNCAC.
The Commission had worked hand-in-hand with its partners in both sectors to make the probity culture sustainable. Through years of community education, the people of Hong Kong were now ready and willing to report corruption, Mr Tong said.
Last year, the ICAC received 3,339 corruption complaints, which meant one from every 2,000 citizens, Mr Tong said.
Over 70 per cent of the complainants were willing to give their names and identities - a strong indication of the trust they had in the ICAC.
Other ICAC officers attending the four-day conference include: Mr Francis Lee Chun-sang, Director of Investigation (Private Sector); Mr Ricky Chu Man-kin, Acting Director of Corruption Prevention; Ms Julie Mu Fee-man, Assistant Director of Community Relations and Mr Tse Man-shing, Assistant Director of Administration .
Mr Francis Lee and Mr Ricky Chu will speak respectively on effective and accountable anti-corruption enforcement actions and corruption prevention measures at the Conference tomorrow (Friday). Ms Mu and Mr Tse act as rapporteurs at the conference.
During the conference, Mr Tong also met with Mr Jia Chunwang, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and President of the IAACA.
The IAACA is set up with the objective to facilitate the implementation of the UNCAC through the exchanges and experience-sharing among anti-corruption agencies around the world.
The ICAC wishes to take this opportunity to share with the international community Hong Kong’s comprehensive strategy in tackling corruption and to demonstrate its support for this global anti-corruption initiative.