ICAC’s anti-graft efforts and unwavering determination well recognised
2019-7-10
The ICAC’s anti-graft efforts and unwavering mission to fight corruption were widely supported by local citizens and well recognised by the international community, according to the 2018 ICAC Annual Report released today (July 10).
In the Commissioner’s Review of the annual report, ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu noted that last year was of great significance to the Commission as it approached its 45th anniversary, marking the beginning of a new era of anti-corruption work.
“While technological advancement and globalisation have brought rapid changes to our society in the past decades, the ICAC sailed through those changes with its unwavering mission to fight and uproot corruption with a three-pronged strategy, combining law enforcement, prevention and education,” he said.
The ICAC received 2,665 non-election related corruption complaints in 2018. Of those complaints, about 66 per cent concerned the private sector, 27 per cent related to government departments, and seven per cent involved public bodies.
Moreover, a total of 97 complaints under the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance were received, including 44 and 20 complaints concerning the 2018 Legislative Council By-Elections held in March and November respectively.
Mr Peh remarked that according to ICAC’s intelligence and analysis, the corruption situation in Hong Kong continued to remain well under control.
Findings of international and local surveys also affirmed that the culture of probity was deeply rooted in Hong Kong, Mr Peh added.
The 2018 ICAC Annual Survey revealed that 98.4 per cent of the respondents had not encountered corruption personally in the past 12 months, showing a very low level of corruption.
The survey also showed that 97 per cent of the respondents supported the work of the ICAC and 81.7 per cent indicated that they were willing to report corruption.
Mr Peh noted that to sustain the probity situation in Hong Kong, apart from the ICAC’s strenuous anti-graft efforts, the public’s continual high vigilance against corruption was of paramount importance.
He noted that very often ICAC cases attracted wide media coverage reflecting the public’s “zero tolerance” attitude towards corruption as well as the Commission’s all-out efforts to pursue the corrupt without fear or favour, regardless of their identity and status.
“Media reports on corruption should not be perceived as any deterioration of the corruption situation, it was rather the outcome of the ICAC’s robust enforcement efforts,” he stressed.
On the international front, the Commissioner said in view of globalisation and the increasing cross-boundary nature of corruption, international cooperation was of vital importance to graft fighting.
He said the ICAC had strengthened cooperation with and provided training for anti-corruption agencies in other jurisdictions within the framework of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
“Efforts to assist these jurisdictions in building up anti-corruption capacity will not only benefit Hong Kong businessmen, enterprises and professionals seeking opportunities in these countries and places, but also help Hong Kong fulfil its obligations under the UNCAC,” he added.
Mr Peh noted that since the initiatives were announced in February last year, active and constructive dialogues had been maintained with anti-corruption agencies of over 30 jurisdictions, which were also UNCAC states members and countries along the Belt and Road routes.
“The initiatives further expand the ICAC’s global anti-corruption network and demonstrate to the international community Hong Kong’s unwavering commitment to the fight against corruption,” he said.
In the Commissioner’s Review of the annual report, ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu noted that last year was of great significance to the Commission as it approached its 45th anniversary, marking the beginning of a new era of anti-corruption work.
“While technological advancement and globalisation have brought rapid changes to our society in the past decades, the ICAC sailed through those changes with its unwavering mission to fight and uproot corruption with a three-pronged strategy, combining law enforcement, prevention and education,” he said.
The ICAC received 2,665 non-election related corruption complaints in 2018. Of those complaints, about 66 per cent concerned the private sector, 27 per cent related to government departments, and seven per cent involved public bodies.
Moreover, a total of 97 complaints under the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance were received, including 44 and 20 complaints concerning the 2018 Legislative Council By-Elections held in March and November respectively.
Mr Peh remarked that according to ICAC’s intelligence and analysis, the corruption situation in Hong Kong continued to remain well under control.
Findings of international and local surveys also affirmed that the culture of probity was deeply rooted in Hong Kong, Mr Peh added.
The 2018 ICAC Annual Survey revealed that 98.4 per cent of the respondents had not encountered corruption personally in the past 12 months, showing a very low level of corruption.
The survey also showed that 97 per cent of the respondents supported the work of the ICAC and 81.7 per cent indicated that they were willing to report corruption.
Mr Peh noted that to sustain the probity situation in Hong Kong, apart from the ICAC’s strenuous anti-graft efforts, the public’s continual high vigilance against corruption was of paramount importance.
He noted that very often ICAC cases attracted wide media coverage reflecting the public’s “zero tolerance” attitude towards corruption as well as the Commission’s all-out efforts to pursue the corrupt without fear or favour, regardless of their identity and status.
“Media reports on corruption should not be perceived as any deterioration of the corruption situation, it was rather the outcome of the ICAC’s robust enforcement efforts,” he stressed.
On the international front, the Commissioner said in view of globalisation and the increasing cross-boundary nature of corruption, international cooperation was of vital importance to graft fighting.
He said the ICAC had strengthened cooperation with and provided training for anti-corruption agencies in other jurisdictions within the framework of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
“Efforts to assist these jurisdictions in building up anti-corruption capacity will not only benefit Hong Kong businessmen, enterprises and professionals seeking opportunities in these countries and places, but also help Hong Kong fulfil its obligations under the UNCAC,” he added.
Mr Peh noted that since the initiatives were announced in February last year, active and constructive dialogues had been maintained with anti-corruption agencies of over 30 jurisdictions, which were also UNCAC states members and countries along the Belt and Road routes.
“The initiatives further expand the ICAC’s global anti-corruption network and demonstrate to the international community Hong Kong’s unwavering commitment to the fight against corruption,” he said.