Continued anti-corruption efforts help Hong Kong maintain its edge
2011-7-6
With the ICAC’s sustained efforts, corruption in Hong Kong remained under tight control despite the linger aftershocks of the global financial crisis, according to the ICAC’s latest Annual Report.
Tabling ICAC’s 2010 Annual Report at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday), Advisory Committee on Corruption member and legislator Mr Chan Kam-lam said with staunch support and trust of the public, the ICAC continued to carry out its anti-corruption duties effecti vely through the three-pronged strategy of law enforcement, prevention and community education.
The total number of corruption reports stood at 3,427 in 2010, registering a one per cent drop than 3,450 reports in 2009.
Among the corruption reports received, 78 per cent were pursuable and 74 per cent non-anonymous, both representing a five percentage point increase than the previous year.
In the Commissioner’s review in the report, Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming noted that in 2010, a high case-based conviction rate of 88 per cent sounded a clear ‘'91play fair’ warning to the public.
In view of the increasing sophistication and complexity of corruption, Dr Tong stressed the Commission’s continued commitment to strengthening the professional edge of ICAC officers, particularly in forensic accounting and information technology.
During 2010, the two Financial Investigation Sections of Operations Department conducted investigations in 6,497 transactions with an aggregate sum of $8.2 billion in 93 cases.
To further enhance investigators’ knowledge on the global and local financial systems as well as the regulatory mechanism, financial investigation courses and workshops on financial markets and corporate finance were held in the year.
Dr Tong said to ensure strict compliance with the Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance, new operational guidelines and working procedures were devised and improved continuously in light of new experience.
In the year, 13 briefings and workshops were conducted to update investigators on the latest legal and administrative requirements.
On the international front, the Commissioner noted that the ICAC saw experience sharing with overseas counterparts as its obligation, particularly so as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption is applicable to Hong Kong through the People’s Republic of China, a signatory to the international agreement.
The International Anti-Corruption Academy set up in Vienna had appointed the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner respectively to its International Senior Advisory Board and Academic Advisory Board, the report also revealed.
“Riding on the strength of robust law enforcement, corruption prevention and community education, officers work in parallel to remove loopholes and help strengthen governance in exposed areas,” said Dr Tong.
He added that the ICAC had paid particular attention to issues relating to people’s everyday living, introducing two best practice checklists on school management and administration of non-government organisations.
To bring more stringent administration and monitoring of publicly funded service programmes, two new best practice checklists respectively for controlling government bodies and grantee organisations would be produced to augment their operational accountab ility and transparency.
The Commission would also introduce ethical management programmes for the testing and certification industry, as well as for small and medium enterprises with cross boundary operations to prevent corruption and to enhance integrity.
Meanwhile, building management remained an area of public concern as the sector alone attracted 957 complaints in 2010, representing 44 per cent of all private sector corruption reports received.
Whilst most of these complaints arose from a lack of transparency in management operations, Dr Tong said the Commission was keeping a close eye on the presence of a few syndicates preying on the huge maintenance market.
To help Owners’ Corporations (OCs) strengthen management and minimise corruption risks, a new corruption prevention toolkit on daily operation of OCs was produced in collaboration with the Home Affairs Department, Hong Kong Housing Society, District Councils and related professional bodies.
To equip tertiary students for handling ethical dilemmas, the ICAC last year launched a personal ethics module for incorporation into the general education and other programmes of universities.
The i-League , an association pulling together undergraduates and graduates involved in ICAC Ambassadors programme, was inaugurated in October last year to sustain the efforts to reinforce morality and integrity amongst these young people.
The Commissioner also noted that a joint working group with representatives of 11 tertiary institutions was set up to enhance their governance to higher levels.
Tabling ICAC’s 2010 Annual Report at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday), Advisory Committee on Corruption member and legislator Mr Chan Kam-lam said with staunch support and trust of the public, the ICAC continued to carry out its anti-corruption duties effecti vely through the three-pronged strategy of law enforcement, prevention and community education.
The total number of corruption reports stood at 3,427 in 2010, registering a one per cent drop than 3,450 reports in 2009.
Among the corruption reports received, 78 per cent were pursuable and 74 per cent non-anonymous, both representing a five percentage point increase than the previous year.
In the Commissioner’s review in the report, Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming noted that in 2010, a high case-based conviction rate of 88 per cent sounded a clear ‘'91play fair’ warning to the public.
In view of the increasing sophistication and complexity of corruption, Dr Tong stressed the Commission’s continued commitment to strengthening the professional edge of ICAC officers, particularly in forensic accounting and information technology.
During 2010, the two Financial Investigation Sections of Operations Department conducted investigations in 6,497 transactions with an aggregate sum of $8.2 billion in 93 cases.
To further enhance investigators’ knowledge on the global and local financial systems as well as the regulatory mechanism, financial investigation courses and workshops on financial markets and corporate finance were held in the year.
Dr Tong said to ensure strict compliance with the Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance, new operational guidelines and working procedures were devised and improved continuously in light of new experience.
In the year, 13 briefings and workshops were conducted to update investigators on the latest legal and administrative requirements.
On the international front, the Commissioner noted that the ICAC saw experience sharing with overseas counterparts as its obligation, particularly so as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption is applicable to Hong Kong through the People’s Republic of China, a signatory to the international agreement.
The International Anti-Corruption Academy set up in Vienna had appointed the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner respectively to its International Senior Advisory Board and Academic Advisory Board, the report also revealed.
“Riding on the strength of robust law enforcement, corruption prevention and community education, officers work in parallel to remove loopholes and help strengthen governance in exposed areas,” said Dr Tong.
He added that the ICAC had paid particular attention to issues relating to people’s everyday living, introducing two best practice checklists on school management and administration of non-government organisations.
To bring more stringent administration and monitoring of publicly funded service programmes, two new best practice checklists respectively for controlling government bodies and grantee organisations would be produced to augment their operational accountab ility and transparency.
The Commission would also introduce ethical management programmes for the testing and certification industry, as well as for small and medium enterprises with cross boundary operations to prevent corruption and to enhance integrity.
Meanwhile, building management remained an area of public concern as the sector alone attracted 957 complaints in 2010, representing 44 per cent of all private sector corruption reports received.
Whilst most of these complaints arose from a lack of transparency in management operations, Dr Tong said the Commission was keeping a close eye on the presence of a few syndicates preying on the huge maintenance market.
To help Owners’ Corporations (OCs) strengthen management and minimise corruption risks, a new corruption prevention toolkit on daily operation of OCs was produced in collaboration with the Home Affairs Department, Hong Kong Housing Society, District Councils and related professional bodies.
To equip tertiary students for handling ethical dilemmas, the ICAC last year launched a personal ethics module for incorporation into the general education and other programmes of universities.
The i-League , an association pulling together undergraduates and graduates involved in ICAC Ambassadors programme, was inaugurated in October last year to sustain the efforts to reinforce morality and integrity amongst these young people.
The Commissioner also noted that a joint working group with representatives of 11 tertiary institutions was set up to enhance their governance to higher levels.