HK wins international praise and support in fighting graft
2014-4-4
Hong Kong has won praise from international organisations as a model of success in anti-corruption work, with support from overseas anti-graft bodies further consolidated.
During his visit to Europe, ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu shared with the Chair of Transparency International (TI), Dr Huguette Labelle, and other TI officials Hong Kong’s latest probity situation and anti-corruption initiatives.
Mr Peh learnt that Hong Kong continued to enjoy a very high international rating as a clean city and remained a front runner in the fight against corruption, despite slight changes in its ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index.
At the exchange session, Dr Labelle noted that while some recent cases involving senior government officials in Hong Kong were isolated ones, it showed Hong Kong’s anti-corruption system had worked well.
Dr Labelle also requested the ICAC to share its anti-corruption experience as a world model for the TI’s study in anti-corruption agencies in the region.
The TI is a Berlin-based non-government organisation that monitors corruption in international development and conducts research on corruption issues worldwide.
In Berlin, Germany, Mr Peh also called on the Chief Prosecutor of the Central Office Against Corruption under the Attorney General’s Office, the corruption fighting and prevention divisions of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, and the Federal Criminal Police Force.
The Commissioner also attended a three-day Executive Committee meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) in Barcelona, Spain.
As a member of the Executive Committee, he took part in the deliberations of the IAACA’s work plan, the review of the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), knowledge sharing as well as, among other items, cooperation strategies.
The IAACA is a non-governmental international organisation formed to foster the implementation of the UNCAC and promote international cooperation in the fight against corruption. It comprises over 300 members from anti-corruption agencies and other relat ed organisations from around the world.
The Commissioner also shared Hong Kong’s experience in fighting graft with counterparts as well as representatives from the United Nations present at the IAACA meeting, and visited the Anti-Fraud Office of Catalonia.
Mr Peh met with senior officials of the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, and addressed a seminar in Lausanne at the invitation of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). He also met with Professor Arturo Bris, Director o f IMD’s World Competitiveness Center.
At the seminar, the Commissioner noted that due to the independent status of the ICAC, a sound institutional framework and a well-established system of checks and balances, the corruption situation in Hong Kong remained well under control.
Mr Peh added that a culture of zero tolerance of corruption had firmly taken root in Hong Kong while the conviction rate of graft cases was over 80 per cent in recent years.
Referring to some recent investigations involving former high ranking officials and top executives of companies, Mr Peh stressed that they were isolated incidents which proved that the ICAC pursued every corruption case impartially in strict accordance wi th the law, regardless of the background, status and position of the people involved.
The Commissioner also shared Hong Kong’s experience in fighting corruption through a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy which combined law enforcement, prevention and education.
Mr Peh was accompanied by Julie Mu Fee-man, ICAC’s Director of Community Relations, and Daniel So Ping-hung, Chief Staff Officer of the Centre of Anti-Corruption Studies during the visit, while Director of Investigation Ricky Yau Shu-chun joined him at the Executive Committee meeting of the IAACA.
The visit will conclude today (April 4).
During his visit to Europe, ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu shared with the Chair of Transparency International (TI), Dr Huguette Labelle, and other TI officials Hong Kong’s latest probity situation and anti-corruption initiatives.
Mr Peh learnt that Hong Kong continued to enjoy a very high international rating as a clean city and remained a front runner in the fight against corruption, despite slight changes in its ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index.
At the exchange session, Dr Labelle noted that while some recent cases involving senior government officials in Hong Kong were isolated ones, it showed Hong Kong’s anti-corruption system had worked well.
Dr Labelle also requested the ICAC to share its anti-corruption experience as a world model for the TI’s study in anti-corruption agencies in the region.
The TI is a Berlin-based non-government organisation that monitors corruption in international development and conducts research on corruption issues worldwide.
In Berlin, Germany, Mr Peh also called on the Chief Prosecutor of the Central Office Against Corruption under the Attorney General’s Office, the corruption fighting and prevention divisions of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, and the Federal Criminal Police Force.
The Commissioner also attended a three-day Executive Committee meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) in Barcelona, Spain.
As a member of the Executive Committee, he took part in the deliberations of the IAACA’s work plan, the review of the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), knowledge sharing as well as, among other items, cooperation strategies.
The IAACA is a non-governmental international organisation formed to foster the implementation of the UNCAC and promote international cooperation in the fight against corruption. It comprises over 300 members from anti-corruption agencies and other relat ed organisations from around the world.
The Commissioner also shared Hong Kong’s experience in fighting graft with counterparts as well as representatives from the United Nations present at the IAACA meeting, and visited the Anti-Fraud Office of Catalonia.
Mr Peh met with senior officials of the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, and addressed a seminar in Lausanne at the invitation of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). He also met with Professor Arturo Bris, Director o f IMD’s World Competitiveness Center.
At the seminar, the Commissioner noted that due to the independent status of the ICAC, a sound institutional framework and a well-established system of checks and balances, the corruption situation in Hong Kong remained well under control.
Mr Peh added that a culture of zero tolerance of corruption had firmly taken root in Hong Kong while the conviction rate of graft cases was over 80 per cent in recent years.
Referring to some recent investigations involving former high ranking officials and top executives of companies, Mr Peh stressed that they were isolated incidents which proved that the ICAC pursued every corruption case impartially in strict accordance wi th the law, regardless of the background, status and position of the people involved.
The Commissioner also shared Hong Kong’s experience in fighting corruption through a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy which combined law enforcement, prevention and education.
Mr Peh was accompanied by Julie Mu Fee-man, ICAC’s Director of Community Relations, and Daniel So Ping-hung, Chief Staff Officer of the Centre of Anti-Corruption Studies during the visit, while Director of Investigation Ricky Yau Shu-chun joined him at the Executive Committee meeting of the IAACA.
The visit will conclude today (April 4).