'Integrity brings prosperity’, says ICAC Commissioner at an international conference
2008-10-6
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption system exemplifies the United Nations model in effectively curbing corruption based on professionalism, comprehensive laws and a holistic strategy, said the ICAC Commissioner, Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming.
The Commissioner made these remarks on Saturday (October 4) at the plenary session of the Third Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) held in Kiev, Ukraine, attended by about 520 part icipants from 106 countries and 13 international organisations.
Speaking on “ Criminalisation and Law Enforcement” , he noted that in line with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Hong Kong has comprehensive laws for criminal sanctions against corruption in both the public and private sectors.
Legislation aside, Hong Kong possesses other ingredients listed in the UN Convention as being crucial to the success of anti-corruption work, namely an independent anti-corruption agency, sufficient resources assigned by the government and well trained pr ofessional graft fighters, said the ICAC chief.
The Commissioner said: “Fighting corruption is a means to an end, and not an end to itself.”
“No economy can be free unless it is free from corruption,” noted the Commissioner, adding that Hong Kong is internationally ranked as the world’s freest economy.
He added that growing in real terms at five per cent per annum, Hong Kong’s GDP is now three times its value two decades ago.
The Commissioner contended that Hong Kong’s determination to fight corruption and uphold integrity was one important contributing factor. “If we sow the seed of integrity, we will reap the fruit of prosperity,” he said.
In sharing Hong Kong’s experience with the conference, the Commissioner observed that following the eradication of syndicated corruption within the public sector, there had been a gradual shift in the patterns of corruption reports towards the private sector.
In the 1970s, graft complaints against the private sector accounted for 18% of all reports received. By now, two-thirds of the reports made to the ICAC fall under the private sector.
The Commissioner also explained how the ICAC had utilised the experiences gained from law enforcement to build a comprehensive corruption prevention system, citing real life examples in the construction industry.
Apart from detection and prosecution of corruption, the ICAC had helped public organisations and private enterprises and professional bodies to develop codes of conduct, best business practices and improved management systems, he said.
The Commissioner was today (Monday) endorsed as a member of the Executive Committee of the IAACA which was established to facilitate the effective implementation of the UNCAC amongst signatories and to strengthen international co-operation in fighting and preventing corruption.
Also attending the conference are ICAC’s Director of Investigation (Government Sector), Mr Ryan Wong Sai-chiu; Acting Director of Community Relations, Ms Julie Mu Fee-man; and Assistant Director of Corruption Prevention, Mr Samuel Hui Kwok-ting.
Mr Wong has made a presentation on corruption in the public sector at a workshop while Ms Mu and Mr Hui served as rapporteurs at the Conference.
Dr Tong will leave Kiev for London tomorrow (Tuesday) to meet business leaders, journalists as well as academics, and to brief them on Hong Kong’s latest anti-corruption work.
The Commissioner made these remarks on Saturday (October 4) at the plenary session of the Third Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) held in Kiev, Ukraine, attended by about 520 part icipants from 106 countries and 13 international organisations.
Speaking on “ Criminalisation and Law Enforcement” , he noted that in line with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Hong Kong has comprehensive laws for criminal sanctions against corruption in both the public and private sectors.
Legislation aside, Hong Kong possesses other ingredients listed in the UN Convention as being crucial to the success of anti-corruption work, namely an independent anti-corruption agency, sufficient resources assigned by the government and well trained pr ofessional graft fighters, said the ICAC chief.
The Commissioner said: “Fighting corruption is a means to an end, and not an end to itself.”
“No economy can be free unless it is free from corruption,” noted the Commissioner, adding that Hong Kong is internationally ranked as the world’s freest economy.
He added that growing in real terms at five per cent per annum, Hong Kong’s GDP is now three times its value two decades ago.
The Commissioner contended that Hong Kong’s determination to fight corruption and uphold integrity was one important contributing factor. “If we sow the seed of integrity, we will reap the fruit of prosperity,” he said.
In sharing Hong Kong’s experience with the conference, the Commissioner observed that following the eradication of syndicated corruption within the public sector, there had been a gradual shift in the patterns of corruption reports towards the private sector.
In the 1970s, graft complaints against the private sector accounted for 18% of all reports received. By now, two-thirds of the reports made to the ICAC fall under the private sector.
The Commissioner also explained how the ICAC had utilised the experiences gained from law enforcement to build a comprehensive corruption prevention system, citing real life examples in the construction industry.
Apart from detection and prosecution of corruption, the ICAC had helped public organisations and private enterprises and professional bodies to develop codes of conduct, best business practices and improved management systems, he said.
The Commissioner was today (Monday) endorsed as a member of the Executive Committee of the IAACA which was established to facilitate the effective implementation of the UNCAC amongst signatories and to strengthen international co-operation in fighting and preventing corruption.
Also attending the conference are ICAC’s Director of Investigation (Government Sector), Mr Ryan Wong Sai-chiu; Acting Director of Community Relations, Ms Julie Mu Fee-man; and Assistant Director of Corruption Prevention, Mr Samuel Hui Kwok-ting.
Mr Wong has made a presentation on corruption in the public sector at a workshop while Ms Mu and Mr Hui served as rapporteurs at the Conference.
Dr Tong will leave Kiev for London tomorrow (Tuesday) to meet business leaders, journalists as well as academics, and to brief them on Hong Kong’s latest anti-corruption work.