Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu highlighted Hong Kong’s position at the forefront of the international fight against corruption which maintains a robust regulatory system that aligns with global standards.
In his opening address at the 8th ICAC Symposium – which will be held from Wednesday to Friday under the theme “charting a new path to combat corruption” – Lee said Hong Kong is renowned for its clean and efficient government, fair business environment, strong rule of law, and independent judiciary with zero tolerance for corruption.
He noted that Hong Kong’s anti-corruption efforts have been recognized globally as the city ranked 9th in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index for Absence of Corruption, and ranked 14th out of 180 countries and territories in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
Lee said the latest ICAC annual survey shows citizens maintain a zero-tolerance attitude towards corruption, with 98 percent of respondents indicating they had not encountered any corrupt practices in the past 12 months.
The Symposium has attracted over 500 anti-corruption experts from 60 different jurisdictions.
The three-day event will also provide a platform for anti-corruption authorities worldwide to share their experiences, discuss emerging challenges, and explore innovative strategies to combat the ever-evolving landscape of corruption.
ICAC Commissioner Woo Ying-ming said to bolster international cooperation, the Commission has signed several agreements with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as anti-corruption bodies from Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
Hong Kong United Times丨香港聯合時報丨HKUT 