專員隨筆
Commissioner Online
Forging ahead in staunch beliefs

Recent staff movements at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) have no doubt aroused public concerns. However, given that the matter involves the privacy of individual officers, the Commission cannot reveal more than we did. Nonetheless, I have every confidence that all our staff will remain as committed as ever to discharging their anti-graft duties and upholding the values of the Commission. The public can rest assured that personnel changes will not undermine the effectiveness of our anti-corruption work.

While I have repeatedly made it clear that ceasing the acting arrangement of an individual officer had absolutely nothing to do with any investigations, regrettably those with malicious intents deliberately twisted the matter by associating the incident with our investigative work. Their objective is clear – to smear the reputation of the ICAC. Amidst rumours and unfounded speculations, we urge our officers to stand firm to their beliefs and not to waver from the ardent determination which they possessed at the time when they joined the Commission.

The three senior officers in the top echelon of the Operations Department are among those who joined the ICAC with a resolute commitment to the anti-graft cause. They are all seasoned graft-fighters who had impartially handled major corruption cases in both public and private sectors. Under their steering, officers of the Operations Department will continue to combat corruption without fear or favour and in strict accordance with the law.

The ICAC has come a long way in reaching where we are today. We could not have done this without the staunch support of the public. The Commission has been discharging its anti-graft duties professionally, impartially and without interference. And it will continue to do so. Personnel movements will not affect its independence even by an iota.

The independent status of the ICAC, enshrined in the Basic Law, had never been challenged in the past 40-odd years. Some recent cases involving former or incumbent senior government officials also demonstrate that we do enforce the law in a fearless and impartial manner, regardless of the background, identity and social status of the persons involved. We never wavered from that determination – not in the past, not now and certainly not in the future. Moreover, a rigorous and time-tested system of checks and balances, including the independent advisory committees, the Legislative Council and the media, will continue to monitor the ICAC and ensure that our work maintains a very high professional standard.

The ICAC has all along embraced a three-pronged approach in fighting corruption. Apart from law enforcement, both the Corruption Prevention Department (CPD) and the Community Relations Department (CRD) keep a close tab on the pulse of the society. A wide range of preventive and education programmes have been launched to cope with the latest developments and needs of different sectors.

The CPD will soon introduce a Sample Code of Conduct for Managers and Staff of Kindergartens as well as a corruption prevention guide on the administration of medical services through the public-private partnership approach, addressing issues closely relating to the general public.

Meanwhile, the CRD is running a multi-year territory-wide "All for Integrity" programme which hinges on public engagement, community support and passing the torch of upholding the core value of integrity. By reaching out to citizens from various sectors through an array of activities, the programme aims to heighten their awareness of the importance of integrity and consolidate public support for our anti-graft efforts.

Hong Kong, once plagued by corruption, has turned into one of the world's cleanest cities since the bad old days. Today the ICAC is recognised as a pioneer in anti-corruption work by the international arena. We cannot afford to backtrack nor will we ever do so. In fact, it does not matter whether or not we got a head start. The battle against corruption is not a 100-metre sprint. It is not even a middle or long distance race. Anti-corruption work is a marathon that requires stamina and endurance. We know what the public expects of us. We know that only with unwavering determination and perseverance can we continue to lead in this race.