ICAC remains unwavering despite unprecedented challenges
2020-7-8
The ICAC remained perseverant and impartial in discharging its anti-corruption duties despite unprecedented challenges brought by public protests and social events last year, according to the 2019 ICAC Annual Report released today (July 8).
Tabling the annual report at the Legislative Council today, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption and legislator Mr Martin Liao Cheung-kong remarked that over the past 45 years, the ICAC and Hong Kong had ridden out various difficult times.
“Regardless of the social environment, the ICAC has remained steadfast and committed to combatting corruption vigorously through its three-pronged strategy combining law enforcement, prevention and education.” Mr Liao said.
Mr Liao also noted that with the staunch support of the government and members of the public, the ICAC discharged its duties relentlessly in a bid to safeguard the culture of integrity and rule of law in Hong Kong.
In 2019, the ICAC received 2,297 non-election related corruption complaints, representing a drop of 14 per cent when compared with 2018. Of those complaints, about 64 per cent concerned the private sector, 28 per cent related to government departments, and seven per cent involved public bodies.
Moreover, a total of 623 complaints alleging breaches of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance were received. Among them were 518 complaints concerning the District Council (DC) Election held in November last year.
Mr Liao noted that Hong Kong continued to have a low level of corruption. In the 2019 ICAC Annual Survey, 98.1 per cent of the respondents said they had not encountered corruption personally in the past 12 months.
In the Commissioner’s Review of the annual report, ICAC Commissioner Mr Simon Peh Yun-lu said the year 2019 saw the beginning of a new cycle of public elections and the anti-graft agency maintained its unwavering determination to uphold the integrity of these elections.
“The ICAC helped review the draft amendments to the electoral legislation and update the guidelines for the DC Election, launched multi-faceted education and publicity programmes to promote clean elections and took swift enforcement actions against electoral corruption and malpractices,” Mr Peh said.
The Commissioner also noted that the 45th anniversary of the ICAC in 2019 was a timely occasion for the ICAC to strengthen its connection with the community and further entrench the culture of probity. To this end, the ICAC launched various publicity activities, including a “45-day online countdown” campaign, an Open Day, “coffee-sharing” activities across the territory and a new season of the television drama series ICAC Investigators 2019.
“The success of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption work exemplified the importance of unfailing public support and constant involvement of citizens, rendering Hong Kong a society that does not tolerate corruption,” he said.
On the preventive front, the ICAC completed 70 assignment reports last year to assist government departments and public bodies in enhancing their systems, practices and procedures with a view to plugging loopholes that might give rise to corrupt practices.
As corruption remained a global concern, the ICAC continued to enhance its international and regional network in 2019.
In May 2019, the 7th ICAC Symposium jointly organised by the ICAC and the World Justice Project provided a platform for over 500 participants from over 50 jurisdictions to exchange ideas, experiences and best practices in fighting corruption and enhancing the rule of law. Following the Symposium, a capacity building training programme was jointly organised by the ICAC and the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities for 180 anti-corruption experts.
To fulfill its obligation under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the ICAC continued to provide technical assistance to anti-corruption agencies of other countries to build up their anti-corruption capacity. The Commission had so far engaged with over 50 UNCAC States Parties along the Belt and Road. In 2019, the ICAC provided nine customised capacity building training programmes for eight countries reaching a total of 160 participants.
In May last year, the ICAC also attended a tripartite meeting with the heads of the Guangdong Provincial Commission of Supervision and the Commission Against Corruption of Macao. The three parties agreed in principle to join hands to strengthen efforts in combating cross-boundary corruption, promoting integrity culture as well as organising capacity building programmes for graft-fighters.
Tabling the annual report at the Legislative Council today, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption and legislator Mr Martin Liao Cheung-kong remarked that over the past 45 years, the ICAC and Hong Kong had ridden out various difficult times.
“Regardless of the social environment, the ICAC has remained steadfast and committed to combatting corruption vigorously through its three-pronged strategy combining law enforcement, prevention and education.” Mr Liao said.
Mr Liao also noted that with the staunch support of the government and members of the public, the ICAC discharged its duties relentlessly in a bid to safeguard the culture of integrity and rule of law in Hong Kong.
In 2019, the ICAC received 2,297 non-election related corruption complaints, representing a drop of 14 per cent when compared with 2018. Of those complaints, about 64 per cent concerned the private sector, 28 per cent related to government departments, and seven per cent involved public bodies.
Moreover, a total of 623 complaints alleging breaches of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance were received. Among them were 518 complaints concerning the District Council (DC) Election held in November last year.
Mr Liao noted that Hong Kong continued to have a low level of corruption. In the 2019 ICAC Annual Survey, 98.1 per cent of the respondents said they had not encountered corruption personally in the past 12 months.
In the Commissioner’s Review of the annual report, ICAC Commissioner Mr Simon Peh Yun-lu said the year 2019 saw the beginning of a new cycle of public elections and the anti-graft agency maintained its unwavering determination to uphold the integrity of these elections.
“The ICAC helped review the draft amendments to the electoral legislation and update the guidelines for the DC Election, launched multi-faceted education and publicity programmes to promote clean elections and took swift enforcement actions against electoral corruption and malpractices,” Mr Peh said.
The Commissioner also noted that the 45th anniversary of the ICAC in 2019 was a timely occasion for the ICAC to strengthen its connection with the community and further entrench the culture of probity. To this end, the ICAC launched various publicity activities, including a “45-day online countdown” campaign, an Open Day, “coffee-sharing” activities across the territory and a new season of the television drama series ICAC Investigators 2019.
“The success of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption work exemplified the importance of unfailing public support and constant involvement of citizens, rendering Hong Kong a society that does not tolerate corruption,” he said.
On the preventive front, the ICAC completed 70 assignment reports last year to assist government departments and public bodies in enhancing their systems, practices and procedures with a view to plugging loopholes that might give rise to corrupt practices.
As corruption remained a global concern, the ICAC continued to enhance its international and regional network in 2019.
In May 2019, the 7th ICAC Symposium jointly organised by the ICAC and the World Justice Project provided a platform for over 500 participants from over 50 jurisdictions to exchange ideas, experiences and best practices in fighting corruption and enhancing the rule of law. Following the Symposium, a capacity building training programme was jointly organised by the ICAC and the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities for 180 anti-corruption experts.
To fulfill its obligation under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the ICAC continued to provide technical assistance to anti-corruption agencies of other countries to build up their anti-corruption capacity. The Commission had so far engaged with over 50 UNCAC States Parties along the Belt and Road. In 2019, the ICAC provided nine customised capacity building training programmes for eight countries reaching a total of 160 participants.
In May last year, the ICAC also attended a tripartite meeting with the heads of the Guangdong Provincial Commission of Supervision and the Commission Against Corruption of Macao. The three parties agreed in principle to join hands to strengthen efforts in combating cross-boundary corruption, promoting integrity culture as well as organising capacity building programmes for graft-fighters.