The ICAC and the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) today (November 6) co-organised a thematic workshop on supervisory accountability for about 150 Ethics Officers and staff responsible for integrity management of around 70 bureaux / departments (B/Ds) under the Ethical Leadership Programme (ELP), with a view to entrenching the integrity culture in government departments.

The ICAC and the CSB have been in close collaboration with all B/Ds to promote and maintain integrity in the civil service. Under the ELP jointly launched by ICAC and the CSB, senior directorate officers are appointed by B/Ds as Ethics Officers to assist in promoting integrity at B/Ds level and to take forward various activities to fortify the integrity culture in the civil service.

The 21st ELP workshop held today expounded on the importance of supervisory accountability of civil servants through sharing sessions and a panel discussion.

Welcoming participants to the workshop, ICAC’s Director of Community Relations, Mr Diman Mak Wai-keung, said, “Hong Kong takes pride in having a clean civil service, which continuously contributes to the city’s top positions in international surveys. The ICAC has been working in concert with the CSB to uphold civil service integrity and strengthen the probity culture in the government.”

In her opening remarks at the workshop, Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Shirley Lau Sze-mun, said, “In respect of strengthening governance capabilities of the civil service, enhancing supervisory accountability is an integral part in the process. In order to properly carry out one’s supervisory duties, supervisory staff are required to provide clear regulations and appropriate guidelines to subordinates, monitor subordinates’ conduct and performance, and take prompt and resolute actions against any improper behaviour.” .
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At today’s workshop, Assistant Director of the Operations Department, Mr Wong Wai-kit, Assistant Director of the Corruption Prevention Department, Ms Kate Cheuk Chi-yan, and Assistant Director of the Community Relations Department, Ms Debbie Ly Uyen-g, briefed participants on the latest development in integrity management, and through case studies, illustrated how to enhance supervisory accountability through the three-pronged strategy combing law enforcement, prevention and education. Representatives from the Police, Fire Services Department and Correctional Services Department also shared their respective experience in discharging supervisory duties.

Senior Principal Executive Officer (Disciplinary Secretariat), Ms Joyce Lam Shuk-kuen, took the opportunity to explain the administrative guidelines and analyse disciplinary cases in relation to supervisory accountability. A visit to ICAC’s enforcement facilities was also arranged for participants to deepen their understanding of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption work.