Review of anti-corruption strategies Rob McCusker - Australian ...

three provisions restricting bribery in the Criminal Code. However, the task of curbing corruption is divided
among police, the General Prosecutor’s Office and the courts. The second pattern involved the
introduction of anti-corruption legislation with several agencies. In India the Prevention of Corruption Act is
implemented by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Central Vigilance Commission, the state anticorruption
bureaux and the state vigilance commissions. The third pattern involved the creation of anticorruption
legislation with one independent agency. In Singapore the Prevention of Corruption Act is
implemented by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau. The third pattern was deemed the most
effective given that Singapore and Hong Kong SAR had been determined by Transparency International
to be more successful than the other countries in minimising corruption. A number of lessons were said
to have been learned in relation to the anti-corruption experiences of the five countries examined:
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commitment of the political leadership is crucial
a comprehensive strategy is more effective than incremental measures
the anti-corruption agency must be incorruptible
the anti-corruption agency must be removed from police control
opportunities for corruption in vulnerable agencies must be reduced
corruption must be reduced by raising salaries if a country can afford to do so (Quah 1999).
Hong Kong SAR’s ICAC has always adopted a three pronged approach of investigation, prevention and
education. The Operations Department is charged with investigating alleged corruption cases. It has
wide-ranging powers including the use of informants and undercover agents.
The Corruption Prevention Department examines practices and procedures of government departments
and public bodies with a view to identifying and eliminating opportunities. Through its Advisory Services
Group the department also advises private organisations on ways to prevent corruption. Since 1998, the
department has produced best practice packages containing advice on ways of minimising corruption
opportunities in areas such as procurement, tendering and information security.
The Community Relations Department is charged with educating the public against corruption with the use of
the media as a major educative strategy. The department also organised educational programs for new arrivals
to Hong Kong SAR from China (following the handover in 1997) to raise awareness of anti-corruption laws.
Within the private sector, ICAC has focused on issues such as building management. It offers its services
to all newly formed owners’ corporations and building management organisations whose buildings have
undergone repair or maintenance work. ICAC also published practical web guides such as the Corruption
prevention guidance on building management and a checklist to assist building management organisations
to enhance transparency and prevent corruption when undertaking renovation and repair projects.
In relation to the financial and insurance industries there has been an emphasis on corporate governance
and this has contributed to the installation of effective internal checks and balances. ICAC maintains close
links with the Hong Kong SAR Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission.
In relation to corruption within government, the police force formed the Anti-Corruption Strategy Steering
Committee with ICAC assistance to fight against graft, formulate strategies and monitor progress of
implementation plans. A Working Group on the Internal Reporting of Malpractice and Corruption was
established in 1998 to examine a mechanism for reporting serious breaches of duty and supporting
officers who made reports.
In relation to public housing construction projects the Corruption Prevention Department reviewed
the Housing Department’s site supervision system and identified a number of issues that had led to
quality and corruption problems. In 2000, the Housing Department set up an Anti-Corruption Strategy
Committee similar to the one established by the Hong Kong SAR Police.