International graft fighters in Hong Kong to get equipped for co-building ‘Clean Silk Road’ with innovative technology
2024-9-3
Twenty-seven anti-corruption experts from around the world have gathered in Hong Kong for the Professional Anti-corruption Training in Major Infrastructure Projects for Belt and Road (B&R) countries, hosted by the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption (HKIAAC) of the ICAC. During the nine-day programme, the ICAC will share with participants its experience in enhancing anti-graft capabilities in mega infrastructure projects through innovative technology.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the programme yesterday (September 2), ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming noted that to tie in with the latest development of the country’s B&R Initiative, the programme was held last year for the first time and had received unanimous positive feedbacks. The HKIAAC is organising the programme again this year with an enriched content, hoping to share our graft-fighting experience in relation to mega infrastructure projects with representatives of various B&R anti-corruption agencies.
“This is done in line with the eight major initiatives announced by President Xi Jinping during the third B&R Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in October 2023. In the seventh initiative, President Xi stressed on the importance of building a clean silk road. The ICAC is committed to building a knowledge-sharing platform through this training course in order to achieve this goal,” Mr Woo added.
Mr Woo hoped that participants would bring home insights and experience learnt in the course and further consolidate international anti-corruption collaboration amongst B&R counterparts.
Also officiating at the opening ceremony, Commissioner for B&R Mr Nicholas Ho Lik-chi remarked that the ICAC had been very effective in its anti-corruption effort and was well-recoginsed as a successful role model around the world. Hong Kong was fully committed to contributing to a Clean Silk Road and helping to advance anti-corruption capacities along the B&R, as well as strengthening collaboration to jointly improve the overall effectiveness of high-quality development.
Quoting an old adage which said “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”, Mr Ho noted that Hong Kong stood ready to collaborate with different countries to generate mutual benefits.
The 27 participants of the programme came from anti-corruption agencies of 13 B&R jurisdictions worldwide. Amongst them, 21 are representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Congo, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Portugal, Thailand and Zambia. Also joining the Training are six officers of the Macao Commission Against Corruption and the Hong Kong ICAC.
This year’s programme, themed “Leveraging on Innovation and Technology”, focuses on preventive measures to effectively minimise corruption risks, strengthening project supervision and improving anti-corruption capabilities in mega infrastructure projects. ICAC representatives will illustrate, through case studies, the Commission’s law enforcement and preventive strategies for large-scale construction projects. The HKIAAC have invited guest speakers from the Development Bureau, the City University of Hong Kong and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to share with participants their insights on anti-corruption.
During the nine-day programme, participants will visit two of the large-scale infrastructure development projects in Hong Kong, namely the Central Kowloon Route Project and the Relocation of Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works Project, to learn first-hand the city’s preventive and control measures for public works projects. They will also pay a three-day study visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, where they will visit infrastructure projects in Zhongshan and Jiangmen. Participants will also have the opportunity to exchange with representatives of local anti-corruption units so that they could learn about the country’s determination to curb corruption in mega infrastructure projects and relevant measures.
Meanwhile, accompanied by ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming, Deputy ICAC Commissioner Mr Ricky Yau Shu-chun, as well as ICAC directorate officers, all participants paid a visit to the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (OCMFA) of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) last night. They were received by Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR Mr Cui Jianchun, who also hosted a dinner for the delegation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the programme yesterday (September 2), ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming noted that to tie in with the latest development of the country’s B&R Initiative, the programme was held last year for the first time and had received unanimous positive feedbacks. The HKIAAC is organising the programme again this year with an enriched content, hoping to share our graft-fighting experience in relation to mega infrastructure projects with representatives of various B&R anti-corruption agencies.
“This is done in line with the eight major initiatives announced by President Xi Jinping during the third B&R Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in October 2023. In the seventh initiative, President Xi stressed on the importance of building a clean silk road. The ICAC is committed to building a knowledge-sharing platform through this training course in order to achieve this goal,” Mr Woo added.
Mr Woo hoped that participants would bring home insights and experience learnt in the course and further consolidate international anti-corruption collaboration amongst B&R counterparts.
Also officiating at the opening ceremony, Commissioner for B&R Mr Nicholas Ho Lik-chi remarked that the ICAC had been very effective in its anti-corruption effort and was well-recoginsed as a successful role model around the world. Hong Kong was fully committed to contributing to a Clean Silk Road and helping to advance anti-corruption capacities along the B&R, as well as strengthening collaboration to jointly improve the overall effectiveness of high-quality development.
Quoting an old adage which said “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”, Mr Ho noted that Hong Kong stood ready to collaborate with different countries to generate mutual benefits.
The 27 participants of the programme came from anti-corruption agencies of 13 B&R jurisdictions worldwide. Amongst them, 21 are representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Congo, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Portugal, Thailand and Zambia. Also joining the Training are six officers of the Macao Commission Against Corruption and the Hong Kong ICAC.
This year’s programme, themed “Leveraging on Innovation and Technology”, focuses on preventive measures to effectively minimise corruption risks, strengthening project supervision and improving anti-corruption capabilities in mega infrastructure projects. ICAC representatives will illustrate, through case studies, the Commission’s law enforcement and preventive strategies for large-scale construction projects. The HKIAAC have invited guest speakers from the Development Bureau, the City University of Hong Kong and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to share with participants their insights on anti-corruption.
During the nine-day programme, participants will visit two of the large-scale infrastructure development projects in Hong Kong, namely the Central Kowloon Route Project and the Relocation of Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works Project, to learn first-hand the city’s preventive and control measures for public works projects. They will also pay a three-day study visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, where they will visit infrastructure projects in Zhongshan and Jiangmen. Participants will also have the opportunity to exchange with representatives of local anti-corruption units so that they could learn about the country’s determination to curb corruption in mega infrastructure projects and relevant measures.
Meanwhile, accompanied by ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming, Deputy ICAC Commissioner Mr Ricky Yau Shu-chun, as well as ICAC directorate officers, all participants paid a visit to the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (OCMFA) of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) last night. They were received by Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR Mr Cui Jianchun, who also hosted a dinner for the delegation.
ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming and Commissioner for Belt and Road Mr Nicholas Ho Lik-chi officiate at the opening ceremony.
Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Cui Jianchun (front row, fifth left) receives delegation led by ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming (front row, fourth left).
ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming and Deputy ICAC Commissioner Mr Ricky Yau Shu-chun brief Commissioner for Belt and Road Mr Nicholas Ho Lik-chi achievements in combating corruption in large-scale construction projects.
27 Belt and Road graft fighters attend the Professional Anti-corruption Training in Major Infrastructure Projects hosted by the HKIAAC of the ICAC, aiming at co-building a “Clean Silk Road”.
Commissioner for Belt and Road Mr Nicholas Ho Lik-chi says that Hong Kong is fully committed to contribute to the construction of a “Clean Silk Road”.