Enlisting support of legal professionals in the fight against corruption

Corruption is an insidious crime involving consenting parties. The Hong Kong courts have always compared it to cancer which eats into the fabric of society. If it is not checked, it will spread. In order to fight this invisible crime constantly, the ICAC adopts a long-standing strategy of enlisting the support of different sectors, including pillars of our society such as legal professionals.

In Hong Kong, there are three universities providing the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL), a professional legal qualification programme. After graduation, students have the opportunity to join the Department of Justice as counsel, the judiciary as magistrates or judges, or even represent defendants in ICAC cases. For the first time, the ICAC earlier organised a series of joint visits for over 400 PCLL students to enrich their understanding of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption regime and law enforcement work. The initiative was conceived to win allies in the constant battle against corruption.

Mr Ricky Yau Shu-chun, Deputy Commissioner and Head of Operations of the ICAC, told PCLL students participating in the visit programme that Hong Kong was armed with the institution, the legal framework and powers, as well as a dedicated agency to combat corruption. The society did not only rely on legal professionals to defend the rule of law, but it also counted on them to fight corruption and to maintain a fair and just society. Mr Yau’s remark was echoed by programme leaders of criminal litigation course of the three universities.

Mr Christopher Knight, Professional Consultant of the Faculty of Law of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, noted that Hong Kong had an internationally renowned judiciary. Law enforcement, prosecution and defence were all part of the system. While the ICAC had got on top of the corruption problem since the mid-70s, it is a constant battle that required the concerted effort of the society.

Ms Amanda Whitfort, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Law of the Hong Kong University, said it was important that a unit was tasked with looking at corruption because it was a difficult area of crime which called for the expertise of specialised people.

“We have a very good system here in terms of anti-corruption law. The ICAC does a very good job in trying to maintain that system, and that is seen throughout all sectors of the society. After today, my students have a much clearer perspective on what that entails. They are just legal students in their twenties, but they are far more prepared for the future, and to ensure that we have a corruption-free Hong Kong,” Mr Sajan Sujanani, Teaching Consultant of the City University of Hong Kong’ School of Law, added.

Participants of the visit programme were given a guided tour to various ICAC facilities, including the Video Interview Rooms, the Identification Parade Suite and the Detention Centre. A PCLL student said while the rule of law was an abstract concept, during the visit, speakers explained to them how procedural justice was carried out when a suspect was detained or inquired. Another student described the visit as an eye-opening experience which they would not be able to obtain had they not attended.

Earlier this year, the ICAC also received 150 members of the Hong Kong Bar Association’s Young Barrister’s Committee and the Law Society of Hong Kong. ICAC’s directorates of different departments shared with participants the Commission’s anti-graft strategies, corruption loopholes in the industry as well as future collaboration in upholding the rule of law and a probity culture.