ICAC and Mainland anti-corruption agency jointly promote ethical management for cross-boundary SMEs
2008-4-23
ICAC Commissioner, Timothy Tong Hin-ming, said the ICAC and Guangdong Provincial People’s Procuratorate (GDPP) would strengthen cooperation in law enforcement as well as the promotion of ethical management among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in light of the increased economic integration of the two places.
In his welcoming remarks at the Business Ethics Conference for Small and Medium Enterprises today (Wednesday), Mr Tong said SMEs in Hong Kong had ventured into a diverse array of businesses on the Mainland, employing a huge workforce and generating enormous economic benefits.
Promoting business ethics on both sides of the boundary could contribute to their economic integration and long-term development, he remarked.
Jointly organised by the ICAC and the GDPP and in collaboration with 19 business organisations, the Conference aimed to enhance the understanding of anti-graft laws of Hong Kong and the Mainland among cross-boundary SME operators, as well as encouraging t hem to practise ethical management in their companies.
Mr Tong said the Mainland Government and Hong Kong both placed great emphasis on the double-barrelled strategy of law enforcement and prevention in the fight against corruption.
While the ICAC and GDPP had initiated the Mutual Case Assistance Scheme 20 years ago, the Conference marked a new milestone in their joint efforts on the preventive education front, he said.
Since the introduction of the Scheme in 1988, the ICAC and its Mainland counterparts have interviewed over 1,000 witnesses in each other’s jurisdictions, leading to successful investigations of a number of cross-boundary graft cases.
In recent years, cross-boundary corruption reports remained stable. In 2007, 68 such reports were received while there were 49 and 68 reports in 2006 and 2005 respectively. Most of them were related to trading, manufacturing and transportation services.
Mr Tong said today’s Conference kicked off the ICAC’s two-year Ethics Promotion Programme for SMEs, of which a major initiative was the Corruption Prevention Guide for SME Entrepreneurs Investing in Hong Kong and Guangdong , jointly produced by the ICAC and GDPP.
He said ICAC officers had visited relevant business associations and companies to understand the concerns among SMES.
While addressing common problems encountered, the guidebook highlighted the importance for cross-boundary enterprises to acquaint themselves with the anti-graft laws in both places, formulate staff code of conduct and strengthen internal controls.
Officiating at the launching ceremony of the SME guide were: Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma Si-hang; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, Mr Zheng Kunsheng; Chairman of Guangdong Procurators Association (Former Chief Procurator of GDPP), Mr Zhang Xuejun; and representatives of the 19 assisting organisations.
Addressing the Conference, Mr Frederick Ma Si-hang said Hong Kong’s economy continued to grow steadily and enjoyed a good reputation among mainland and foreign investors, not only due to a free economy, but more importantly, the rule of law and a clean society.
Mr Ma advised SMEs to practise ethical management to gain trust and succeed in doing business in the Mainland and international markets.
Meanwhile, Mr Zhang Xuejun noted that SMEs were facing new challenges in the business and legal environments in the Mainland market.
“Understanding the Mainland anti-graft laws, managing corruption risks and formulating effective measures to prevent graft are conducive to good corporate governance amongst cross-boundary companies,” he added.
Another keynote speaker, Non-official Member of the Executive Council, Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling, said corruption might occur in any place regardless of the geographical locations or the nationalities involved.
As the Chinese Government was determined to combat corruption, Hong Kong businessmen with cross-boundary operations should enhance ethical practices, Mr Fan noted.
He reminded company managers to adopt effective corruption prevention measures on four fronts —'97 (1) a zero-tolerance policy towards bribe paying and taking; (2) a well-defined code of conduct for staff, supported by probity education; (3) a checks and balances mechanism to minimise abuse of power; and (4) reasonable remuneration packages to reduce the temptations of employees to make illegal gains.
Vice Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhu Zenan, delivered a luncheon speech on the cooperation of Guangdong and Hong Kong to foster trade and economic developments.
The Conference was attended by some 180 SME operators, company managers and other guests.
Other panel speakers at the Conference included Chairman of ICAC Citizen Advisory Committee on Community Relations, Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi; Chairman of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, Mr Paul Yin Tek-shing; President of the Hong Kong Chamber of Small and Medium Business Limited, Mr Dennis Ng Wang-pun; Assistant Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Benjamin Chau Kai-leung; Director of GDPP’s Duty-related Crime Prevention Department, Mr Huang Huangyi, and Assistant Director of Community Relations of the ICAC, Ms Julie Mu Fee-man.
In his welcoming remarks at the Business Ethics Conference for Small and Medium Enterprises today (Wednesday), Mr Tong said SMEs in Hong Kong had ventured into a diverse array of businesses on the Mainland, employing a huge workforce and generating enormous economic benefits.
Promoting business ethics on both sides of the boundary could contribute to their economic integration and long-term development, he remarked.
Jointly organised by the ICAC and the GDPP and in collaboration with 19 business organisations, the Conference aimed to enhance the understanding of anti-graft laws of Hong Kong and the Mainland among cross-boundary SME operators, as well as encouraging t hem to practise ethical management in their companies.
Mr Tong said the Mainland Government and Hong Kong both placed great emphasis on the double-barrelled strategy of law enforcement and prevention in the fight against corruption.
While the ICAC and GDPP had initiated the Mutual Case Assistance Scheme 20 years ago, the Conference marked a new milestone in their joint efforts on the preventive education front, he said.
Since the introduction of the Scheme in 1988, the ICAC and its Mainland counterparts have interviewed over 1,000 witnesses in each other’s jurisdictions, leading to successful investigations of a number of cross-boundary graft cases.
In recent years, cross-boundary corruption reports remained stable. In 2007, 68 such reports were received while there were 49 and 68 reports in 2006 and 2005 respectively. Most of them were related to trading, manufacturing and transportation services.
Mr Tong said today’s Conference kicked off the ICAC’s two-year Ethics Promotion Programme for SMEs, of which a major initiative was the Corruption Prevention Guide for SME Entrepreneurs Investing in Hong Kong and Guangdong , jointly produced by the ICAC and GDPP.
He said ICAC officers had visited relevant business associations and companies to understand the concerns among SMES.
While addressing common problems encountered, the guidebook highlighted the importance for cross-boundary enterprises to acquaint themselves with the anti-graft laws in both places, formulate staff code of conduct and strengthen internal controls.
Officiating at the launching ceremony of the SME guide were: Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma Si-hang; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, Mr Zheng Kunsheng; Chairman of Guangdong Procurators Association (Former Chief Procurator of GDPP), Mr Zhang Xuejun; and representatives of the 19 assisting organisations.
Addressing the Conference, Mr Frederick Ma Si-hang said Hong Kong’s economy continued to grow steadily and enjoyed a good reputation among mainland and foreign investors, not only due to a free economy, but more importantly, the rule of law and a clean society.
Mr Ma advised SMEs to practise ethical management to gain trust and succeed in doing business in the Mainland and international markets.
Meanwhile, Mr Zhang Xuejun noted that SMEs were facing new challenges in the business and legal environments in the Mainland market.
“Understanding the Mainland anti-graft laws, managing corruption risks and formulating effective measures to prevent graft are conducive to good corporate governance amongst cross-boundary companies,” he added.
Another keynote speaker, Non-official Member of the Executive Council, Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling, said corruption might occur in any place regardless of the geographical locations or the nationalities involved.
As the Chinese Government was determined to combat corruption, Hong Kong businessmen with cross-boundary operations should enhance ethical practices, Mr Fan noted.
He reminded company managers to adopt effective corruption prevention measures on four fronts —'97 (1) a zero-tolerance policy towards bribe paying and taking; (2) a well-defined code of conduct for staff, supported by probity education; (3) a checks and balances mechanism to minimise abuse of power; and (4) reasonable remuneration packages to reduce the temptations of employees to make illegal gains.
Vice Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhu Zenan, delivered a luncheon speech on the cooperation of Guangdong and Hong Kong to foster trade and economic developments.
The Conference was attended by some 180 SME operators, company managers and other guests.
Other panel speakers at the Conference included Chairman of ICAC Citizen Advisory Committee on Community Relations, Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi; Chairman of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, Mr Paul Yin Tek-shing; President of the Hong Kong Chamber of Small and Medium Business Limited, Mr Dennis Ng Wang-pun; Assistant Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Benjamin Chau Kai-leung; Director of GDPP’s Duty-related Crime Prevention Department, Mr Huang Huangyi, and Assistant Director of Community Relations of the ICAC, Ms Julie Mu Fee-man.