In the 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index released in January 2021 by the international anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, Hong Kong was ranked the 11th cleanest place globally and second in Asia among 180 countries/territories surveyed. This represents a rise of five places when compared with the previous year and the highest ranking of Hong Kong since the index was launched in 1995.
The ICAC Annual Survey 2020 also revealed that 98.4% of the local respondents had not come across corruption personally in the past year. Meanwhile, 81.7% of the respondents were willing to report corruption, the highest percentage registered since 2010, and 93.2% considered the ICAC deserved their support.
These results show that the ICAC’s holistic anti-corruption strategy combining law enforcement, prevention, education and international cooperation is not only supported by the local community, but also recognised and commended internationally. Hong Kong’s clean environment is part and parcel of the open and free society anchored in the city’s institutional strengths.
Since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) in 1997 under the concepts of “one country, two systems”, “a high degree of autonomy” and “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong”, Hong Kong has retained its capitalist system, free economy and trusted legal system. As enshrined in the Basic Law, Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy over its economic and trade policies. It retains its status as a separate customs territory, and is a member in its own right of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The territory also enters into free trade agreements, investment agreements and taxation agreements with other trading partners as an individual economy. The free flow of capital and information is guaranteed. Hong Kong’s special status has been widely recognised and respected by the international community, and the city’s economic and trade status is on par with that of other WTO members.
Hong Kong is internationally renowned for its robust anti-corruption system and culture of integrity, together with other institutional strengths, including rule of law, an independent judiciary, an efficient government and a level-playing field for all, so as to create a favourable environment for business to thrive and enable the economy to prosper.
Facing the COVID-19 pandemic which has posed serious challenges to every part of the world, Hong Kong responded quickly by implementing highly effective preventive measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus within Hong Kong and to other places thereby protecting the public health of the city and preventing the global transmission of the virus. With comprehensive corruption prevention safeguards well in place, the Government’s economic stimuli and relieve measures as well as public procurement projects related to the pandemic are carried out in a corruption-free manner. The Government has also procured vaccines and launched a territory-wide vaccination programme efficiently, orderly and with high level of integrity. Such swift and determined action attributes to Hong Kong’s institutional strengths built on a strong integrity culture and rule of law.
Hong Kong has always been a sophisticated international metropolis highly connected to the world, as well as a gateway, a springboard and an intermediary between China and the rest of the world. The city will continue to uphold its core values of integrity and fairness, and will leverage the advantages of “one country, two systems” to consolidate its position as an international centre for finance, commerce and trade as well as a home for corporate headquarters. Hong Kong is and will always be an open, fair, safe, vibrant and pluralistic international financial and business hub.
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