Clean governance good for business and investment, says ICAC chief at Thailand conference
2011-6-1
Clean governance was good for business and investment, said ICAC Commissioner Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming while citing Hong Kong’s experience that investors often see economic freedom, including freedom from corruption, as the reason for their coming to Hong Kong.
Upon the invitation of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, Dr Tong shared Hong Kong’s anti-corruption experience with over 600 delegates from the Thai government and business sectors, education institutions and non-governmental organisations at an anti-corruption conference in Bangkok, Thailand today (Wednesday).
Taking stock of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption efforts in the past four decades at the conference entitled “Against Corruption: Thailand’s Turning Point” , Dr Tong noted that economic developments would better be attained without corruption.
“Real life cases have told us corruption benefits only a few but hurts many. The plain fact is that corruption and economic prosperity do not go hand-in-hand,” he said.
The Commissioner also said the ICAC had entered into a stage of consolidation since its inception as Hong Kong’s controls against corruption remained intact after reunification with the Mainland in 1997.
Hong Kong’s position in the Corruption Perceptions Index compiled by Transparency International rose significantly from 18 th in the world in 1996 to 13 th position now.
The People’s Republic of China acceded to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) on February 12, 2006 and the Convention also applies to Hong Kong.
Dr Tong noted that as the Central People’s Government had designated the ICAC as the agency within the People’s Republic of China to assist other signatories to the UNCAC to develop and implement specific measures to prevent corruption, the ICAC participated intensely in international exchanges with both government and non-governmental organisations.
Noting that the conference saw the business community of Thailand coming forward to voice their determination to curb corruption, Dr Tong observed that the migration from manufactures to services trade called for better corporate governance; hence a more imminent need to deal with the problem of corruption.
Prior to the conference, His Excellency Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met with Dr Tong and the ICAC delegation, together with Board of Trade of Thailand Chairman Mr Dusit Nontanakorn, to have a brief exchange of views on anti-corruption work.
ICAC’s Director of Community Relations, Ms Julie Mu Fee-man, also shared with the participants of the conference Hong Kong’s approach in transforming public attitude against corruption through value education and community engagement.
During his stay in Thailand, Dr Tong also met with Mr Panthep Klanarongran, President of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, to explore further mutual co-operation.
Accompanying Dr Tong and Ms Mu during the visit were Acting Assistant Director of Community Relations, Ms Valentina Chan Kit-wan; Executive Director of ICAC’s Centre of Anti-Corruption Studies, Mr Gerry Osborn; and Executive Director of Hong Kong Ethics Development Centre, Ms Monica Yu Wai-fun.
Upon the invitation of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, Dr Tong shared Hong Kong’s anti-corruption experience with over 600 delegates from the Thai government and business sectors, education institutions and non-governmental organisations at an anti-corruption conference in Bangkok, Thailand today (Wednesday).
Taking stock of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption efforts in the past four decades at the conference entitled “Against Corruption: Thailand’s Turning Point” , Dr Tong noted that economic developments would better be attained without corruption.
“Real life cases have told us corruption benefits only a few but hurts many. The plain fact is that corruption and economic prosperity do not go hand-in-hand,” he said.
The Commissioner also said the ICAC had entered into a stage of consolidation since its inception as Hong Kong’s controls against corruption remained intact after reunification with the Mainland in 1997.
Hong Kong’s position in the Corruption Perceptions Index compiled by Transparency International rose significantly from 18 th in the world in 1996 to 13 th position now.
The People’s Republic of China acceded to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) on February 12, 2006 and the Convention also applies to Hong Kong.
Dr Tong noted that as the Central People’s Government had designated the ICAC as the agency within the People’s Republic of China to assist other signatories to the UNCAC to develop and implement specific measures to prevent corruption, the ICAC participated intensely in international exchanges with both government and non-governmental organisations.
Noting that the conference saw the business community of Thailand coming forward to voice their determination to curb corruption, Dr Tong observed that the migration from manufactures to services trade called for better corporate governance; hence a more imminent need to deal with the problem of corruption.
Prior to the conference, His Excellency Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met with Dr Tong and the ICAC delegation, together with Board of Trade of Thailand Chairman Mr Dusit Nontanakorn, to have a brief exchange of views on anti-corruption work.
ICAC’s Director of Community Relations, Ms Julie Mu Fee-man, also shared with the participants of the conference Hong Kong’s approach in transforming public attitude against corruption through value education and community engagement.
During his stay in Thailand, Dr Tong also met with Mr Panthep Klanarongran, President of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, to explore further mutual co-operation.
Accompanying Dr Tong and Ms Mu during the visit were Acting Assistant Director of Community Relations, Ms Valentina Chan Kit-wan; Executive Director of ICAC’s Centre of Anti-Corruption Studies, Mr Gerry Osborn; and Executive Director of Hong Kong Ethics Development Centre, Ms Monica Yu Wai-fun.