2024-3-15

The ICAC, the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption (HKIAAC) and the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) have joined hands for the first time to co-host an anti-graft experience sharing programme for overseas graft-fighting counterparts. The programme was set to help graft fighters from South Africa review the country’s anti-corruption framework and explore the feasibility of establishing a national anti-corruption agency (ACA). Representatives of ACAs from other Asian countries were also invited to share their experience to foster international anti-graft cooperation.

The 5-day Experience Sharing Programme for National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) of South Africa commenced on Monday (March 11) and was concluded today (March 15). During his exchanges with delegates of the NACAC, ICAC Commissioner Woo Ying-ming said he hoped they could bring home useful anti-graft experience to promote a probity culture in their country. ICAC officers of different departments also stood ready to render assistance.

“This programme leverages the respective advantages of the three parties, including the ICAC’s successful experience in battling against corruption in the past 50 years, the HKIAAC’s platform for exchanges and trainings, as well as the IAACA’s global graft fighting network, which form a powerful tripartite partnership. Apart from experience sharing by ICAC officers, we also have the pleasure to welcome anti-corruption experts from the Republic of Korea and Malaysia who had travelled to Hong Kong to join our exchanges. This marks an important development of the international anti-graft strategy of the tripartite partnership and helps strengthen our global cooperation network,” Woo said.

The programme featured six exchange workshops and were attended by anti-graft experts from the Anti-corruption & Civil Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Deputy Commissioner and Head of Operations Ricky Yau Shu-chun, while meeting with delegates of the participating ACAs, said the programme was designed to foster in-depth exchanges of the important challenges that might face in setting forth the mandates, organisational structure, implementation strategies and governance of ACA. It was a common consensus around the world to strengthen international cooperation on combatting and preventing corruption, and also on enhancing anti-corruption capacity, and assisting each other on institution building. The ICAC would actively engage with ACAs and international organisations, forging closer partnerships and exploring collaborative projects that address global concerns.

Meanwhile, ICAC officers briefed the South African delegation on the Commission’s law enforcement, corruption prevention and public education work, covering topics such as investigation procedures, corruption prevention strategies, community education strategies as well as the use of new technology and social media in promoting a probity culture.

Arrangements were made for participants to visit various facilities of the Operations Department at the ICAC Building, as well as a Regional Office for them to better understand the Commission’s investigation work and probity education in the community. Participants also visited the Civil Service Bureau today to learn about the work and structures of Government departments.

The German Corporation for International Cooperation provided assistance in coordinating the programme.