Half a century on, the mission continues
It has been over a month since I took up the post as ICAC Commissioner. I am deeply honored for the trust my country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government have placed in me. In the past month I witnessed the conscientious efforts and commitment of ICAC colleagues in safeguarding the city's probity environment. They have laid a solid foundation and achieved outstanding achievements for the city's anti-corruption work. I hope my experience in management and crisis handling would bring inspirations and new ideas. Together, we will take the ICAC's graft-fighting work up a notch, safeguard our city and our Motherland.
Every morning I allow myself some quiet moments and refresh over a cup of freshly brewed coffee - a habit which has stayed with me over the years. Since my first day of work, I wasted no time in visiting all the departments and facilities at the ICAC Building and meeting with colleagues to obtain an initial understanding of their work. To gain an in-depth understanding of the Commission's core business, I will attend work meetings of the Operations Department regularly to get a grip on case handling and the latest development of the department. I would like to express my gratitude to the Deputy Commissioner and the management staff of the Operations Department for helping me integrate into the team. To enhance internal communication and efficiency, I will later extend this practice to the Corruption Prevention Department, Community Relations Department (CRD) as well as the International Cooperation and Corporate Services Department.
Apart from the ICAC Building, Regional Offices across the territory is another essential part of ICAC's anti-corruption work. I paid visit to a number of Regional Offices and was briefed by their officers on their scope of work and daily operations. I also shared with them my work experience and expectations of the ICAC's future community engagement work. I am confident that my ambitions and experience in promoting public education at the Correctional Services Department (CSD) would be applicable to the ICAC. I believe that with the sturdy foundation of CRD's community network, our probity education, in particular for young people, can be brought to the next level.
Sharing experience with young investigators
As the CSD chief, I allocated a lot of resources and efforts in enhancing vocational training as well as developing the "Smart Training" formats for CSD officers. Hence when I learnt that 30 assistant investigators were receiving their second-stage training at the ICAC Training Camp in Tuen Mun, I requested for a visit to the camp. I observed their physical training, car search exercise and operation planning and recalled my own training at CSD as well as operations to combat illegal activities in prisons. I shared with these young investigators my experience in planning operations in institutions and also talked to the Director of Training and Development and trainers about my views for future training development.
For quite a long time during my 30 years of correctional services, I was responsible for the department's anti-corruption work and had collaborated with the ICAC on joint investigations on several occasions. Whether it is for CSD or the ICAC, enforcing the law is of utmost importance. I fully supported my colleagues at CSD on strict enforcement then. And now as ICAC Commissioner, I also consider it necessary to maintain strong enforcement and handle all cases impartially and without fear or favor. After the implementation of the National Security Law, the ICAC's role and responsibilities are increasingly important. We must combat and eradicate any illegal activities which may endanger national security and social stability through corrupt means. Apart from law enforcement, corruption prevention and community education are equally important. To spread the probity message to citizens from different sectors and establish a probity culture, the ICAC must be innovative and employ multiple ways. The Commission will also assist all government departments as well as different trades and industries to prevent and eliminate corruption risks and loopholes.
Till good is better, and better best
When President Xi Jinping visited Hong Kong earlier, he put forward the "Four Musts" and "Four Hopes" for the new government, including patriots administering Hong Kong, maintaining Hong Kong's unique status and advantages, further improving governance, earnestly addressing people's concerns and difficulties in livelihood, and working together to safeguard harmony and stability. These will be my guiding principles in steering the ICAC in the coming five years. I am a firm believer of the motto "till good is better, and better best". Under my leadership, the ICAC, standing on a solid 48-year foundation, will continue to strive for improvements. Apart from maintaining a clean and fair society, in line with the Mainland's development and anti-graft policies, we will also strengthen anti-graft exchanges and cooperation between the two places. With our successful graft fighting experience accrued over the decades, we will assist anti-corruption counterparts worldwide in capacity building and strengthen our global network in the fight against corruption. With the ICAC's stellar reputation, we will continue to explain to the world the strong rule of law in Hong Kong so that malicious criticisms smearing Hong Kong's rule of law and prosperity will become self-defeated.
As President Xi had pointed out, the coming five years would be a critical period for Hong Kong's development. There will be challenges, and there will also be opportunities. Everyone at the ICAC will work together towards a common goal – to safeguard the city's probity and stability, and to continue to tell the world the good stories of Hong Kong.
I will rate my first month's performance as "Satisfactory", and there is much room for improvement. With the concerted efforts of the ICAC management, we look forward to achieving more in the coming future.
WOO Ying-ming
ICAC Commissioner