Hong Kong anti-graft body wins public trust

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By CGTN's Wu Guoxiu

Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) opened its door to public this month.

There were a lot of games for children visiting ICAC, which opens every couple of years to let the public know about its history and facilities.

As many as 16,000 people applied to attend the three-day open-door event this month. And a group of 1,400 people received tickets.

ICAC's questioning room /CGTN photo

On the Chinese mainland, getting invited to tea means to be invited for questioning.

In Hong Kong, the invitation was for coffee. The visitors were given an opportunity to try the graft-buster ICAC's famed coffee with 10 HK dollars (1.28 US dollars) on the opening day.

ICAC's famed coffee /CGTN photo

ICAC workers recalled the time when corruption was an everyday part of life in Hong Kong, "from the womb to the tomb." That was before the ICAC was created back in 1974.

Many government officials, even the police, used to extort money from ordinary people.

Thirty years later, international surveys frequently list Hong Kong as one of the least corrupt regions in the world.

Visitors take photo in ICAC. /CGTN photo

"We tackle corruption by investigation, prevention and public education," said Evalina Yim, regional officer of ICAC's Community Relations Department.

"Our investigative arms can combat corruption by tough law enforcement, we also introduce corruption prevention measures to pluck corruption loopholes.

"Lastly, we educate the public about evils of corruption, so we can have their support in the work of ICAC."

The ICAC has a lot of media programs, like TV drama series and radio programs through which they would like to give messages to the public at large, she said.

"We also have a network of regional offices, that we try to reach out to the public by face to face contact and we organize a lot of projects for the public to participate."

Souvenirs sold on ICAC open day /CGTN photo

A 2016 ICAC survey revealed that Hong Kong people remain highly intolerant of corruption.

Seventy-eight percent of respondents said they would report corruption should they come across it.

The ICAC functions independently and is directly accountable to the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR. It targets corruption in both the government and the private sector.

It also regularly conducts exchanges with the mainland, through visits and seminars.

Some experts say China's future national supervisory commission may share many similarities with the ICAC.

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