專員隨筆
Commissioner Online

Anti-graft work enjoys international recognition and staunch local public support

Tomorrow marks the first day of the Year of the Ox. I still recall that when I was appointed as ICAC Commissioner, a friend told me that the anti-graft agency reminded him of an ox. After I took up this position, I could see what he meant and I wholeheartedly agreed. True to the temperament of the ox, ICAC officers perform their anti-corruption duties with unshakable determination. They carry out their work in accordance with the law and strictly observe the principle of confidentiality. While this perseverance in upholding what is right has been an important factor for ICAC’s success, at times it had invited criticisms.

Hong Kong has become increasingly divided and politicised in recent years. Some people seized the opportunity to lodge reports with the ICAC in a high profile manner. Some even divulged information in relation to ICAC operations, at the cost of breaking the law. When investigations did not conclude or progress as they expected, groundless accusations against the ICAC were made, reposted and forwarded on social media platforms. As a professional anti-graft agency, the ICAC pursues all investigations impartially, pursuant to the law and in strict confidence. The ox will not relent because of some unfounded accusations.

Findings of ICAC Annual Survey 2020

Fortunately we have the understanding and backing of the community. While the social unrest in 2019 and the current pandemic have brought about serious impacts to the economy and people’s daily lives, the public’s anti-corruption awareness and support for the ICAC remain high. According to the 2020 ICAC Annual Survey, 93.2% of the respondents considered the ICAC deserved their support. Moreover, almost all respondents (98%) considered keeping Hong Kong corruption-free was important to the overall development of city. Integrity remains a core value of our society.

The survey also showed that most of the respondents or 98.4% had not encountered corruption personally in the past 12 months. Meanwhile, using a 0 to 10 rating scale, of which 0 represented total rejection and 10 total tolerance of corruption, the mean score for 2020 was 0.4, close to a zero tolerance. In addition, a majority of the respondents or 81.7% were willing to report corruption, the highest percentage registered since 2010. This clearly demonstrated the public’s total disdain for corruption as well as their trust in the ICAC which I greatly appreciate.

Our anti-corruption work is not only supported by the public but is also recognised globally. In the 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index released last month by the international anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, Hong Kong was ranked the 11th cleanest place globally and second in Asia among 180 countries/territory surveyed, representing a notable rise of five places when compared with the previous year and the highest ranking since the index was launched in 1995. The result shows that the ICAC’s holistic anti-corruption strategy combining law enforcement, prevention, education and international cooperation is internationally recognised and commended.

Corruption Perceptions Index 2020. Source: Transparency International

In fact this is a hard-earned scoresheet which we should all treasure. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the geo-political environment had profound impacts on Hong Kong. Since the enactment of the National Security Law of Hong Kong, some western countries and international media had deliberately misinterpreted and smeared the legislative intent and provisions of the law, disregarding the need for our country to plug the loophole in national security. They willfully attacked Hong Kong’s rule of law and legal system. The rule of law and anti-corruption work are closely related. Over the years the ICAC has spared no effort to enhance international cooperation. We have strived to keep the international community and ranking institutions updated on Hong Kong’s probity situation and our level-playing field as competitive edge. We also briefed those organisations about Hong Kong’s strong rule of law and the sound mechanism underpinned by our robust legal system.

Global rankings have far-reaching impact on Hong Kong’s anti-corruption work, its reputation as well as international status. In recent years my colleagues and I had visited international ranking organisations on different occasions. Through face-to-face meetings and exchanges, we briefed them on Hong Kong’s actual situation to dispel any misunderstandings. The ICAC also contributed to the global anti-corruption cause through participating in the work of relevant organisations. The Commission proactively assisted overseas anti-corruption counterparts to enhance their anti-graft capacities by providing tailor-made trainings. We have so far commenced dialogues with around 60 countries, many of which are countries along the Belt & Road region. While the pandemic has prevented us from meeting face to face, ICAC officers continued to share Hong Kong’s graft-fighting experience with other jurisdictions through webinars and online talks. We believe this will further enhance ICAC’s international image, reputation and status.

Meanwhile, the ICAC has all along maintained effective operational liaison and cooperation with Mainland and Macao anti-graft agencies in combating corruption and related crimes. At the first tri-party meeting in 2019, the Guangdong Provincial Commission of Supervision, the Commission Against Corruption of Macao and the Hong Kong ICAC agreed to join force to promote integrity in the Greater Bay Area, which included strengthening cooperation in fighting cross-border corruption, promoting integrity culture and enhancing anti-graft capacity. We look forward to the second tri-party meeting to be held later this year to map out relevant details.

Notwithstanding the international accolades and staunch local community support, there is absolutely no room for complacency and laxity. As the Commission enters its 47th year on Feb 15, we pledge to always stay up-to-date and strive for excellence. With the perseverance and determination of the ox, the ICAC will continue to uphold the anti-corruption mission and the rule of law in Hong Kong without fear or favor.

May I take this opportunity to wish you good health and prosperity in the Year of the Ox.