The 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption: Witnessing Hong Kong’s half-century anti-corruption history

　　China News Service, February 15th "Hello, we are ICAC" "The ICAC is investigating the case and it is not convenient to disclose it" "The ICAC invites you to drink coffee"... When mentioning the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption, many people will think of these familiar words. Classic lines from Hong Kong film and television works, as well as the roles of ICAC investigators portrayed by Hong Kong stars such as Louis Koo and Lau Ching-wan.

  Screenshots from Hong Kong film and television works.

　　February 15, 2024 is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption. Why was the Independent Commission Against Corruption established in Hong Kong 50 years ago? Why can its publicity become a household name? Why did "asking you to drink coffee at the ICAC" become such a thing that corrupt people are afraid of it?

What kind of law enforcement agency is the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong?

  Information map of the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption. Image source: Hong Kong Sing Tao Network

　　Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is also known as "Integrity" and "Integrity" by Hong Kong citizens.

　　This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption. Looking back on Hong Kong's half-century anti-corruption history, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has always remained fearless and upright in its anti-corruption journey.

　　Since its establishment, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has been operating independently and is fully committed to combating corruption. After Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, the ICAC was directly responsible to the Chief Executive of the SAR, and the ICAC Commissioner was required to report regularly to the Executive Council.

　　The ICAC's investigative powers are separated from the prosecutorial powers of the Department of Justice. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also stipulates that the ICAC's constitutional protection is not subject to interference in its work.

Why was the Independent Commission Against Corruption established?

　　In the 1960s and 1970s, corruption was a serious problem in Hong Kong. In the civil service team, regardless of their position, most civil servants are involved in using power for personal gain. Corruption is particularly serious in the police force. Police officers who take bribes cover up various illegal crimes such as pornography, gambling, and drugs. A convicted Hong Kong police superintendent once had this confession: "Corruption has become a way of life in the Hong Kong police force. It is as natural as going to bed at night, getting up during the day, and brushing your teeth."

　　Hong Kong citizens suffer from corruption everywhere in their lives. Before taking the patient to the hospital, the ambulance crew asked the patient for tea money, and the patient had to tip the hospital staff to get boiled water or a bedpan. Even when waiting for public housing, applying for school, or various public services, you have to bribe relevant officials.

  Image source: Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption

　　In 1973, the corruption case of foreign Chief Superintendent Gerber brought public dissatisfaction to a boiling point. Gerber was found to have more than 4.3 million Hong Kong dollars in wealth, which has to be suspected of corruption.

　　The Department of Justice required Gerber to explain the source of his wealth within one week. However, during this period, Gerber easily fled Hong Kong. Gerber's absconding erupted long-standing public dissatisfaction. Hong Kong citizens demanded that the British Hong Kong government arrest and bring the absconding Gerber to justice.

　　Faced with the strong demands of the public, the British Hong Kong government realized that it must take action. After Gerber fled, Senior Deputy Chief Inspector Bailiqu was appointed to organize an investigative committee to investigate the incident. Bailiqu later pointed out in an investigation report that knowledgeable people generally believe that unless the Anti-Corruption Department can become independent from the police, the public will never believe that the government is truly determined to eradicate corruption.

　　The then Governor of Hong Kong, MacLehose, accepted the recommendations of the Bailiqu Report. At the Legislative Council meeting in October 1973, the establishment of an independent anti-corruption organization was announced.

　　The Independent Commission Against Corruption was formally established on February 15, 1974. It uses a "three-pronged" approach of law enforcement, prevention and education to combat corruption.

　　Arresting Gerber and returning to Hong Kong is the first important task of the Independent Commission Against Corruption after its establishment. In the end, Gerber was found guilty of conspiracy to commit corruption and accepting bribes and was sentenced to four years in prison.

　　The Gerber case fully reflects the ICAC's determination to combat corruption, successfully overturning the criticism of some people in society that the ICAC "only swattes flies, not tigers" and has won the recognition and trust of the public.

Why can the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s propaganda become a household name?

　　"Hong Kong is better because of ICAC", this slogan of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in 1997 has long been a household name in Hong Kong. It is precisely because of such persistent propaganda that integrity has become an important core value in Hong Kong society.

　　Over the years, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has insisted on releasing promotional videos and posters, and is also the first government department in Hong Kong to produce TV series as a promotional tool. The first series of "Integrity Action" was broadcast in 1975, and several series have been broadcast so far. Through mass media publicity, the professional image of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in combating corruption and promoting integrity will be more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

  Classic ICAC promotional poster. Image source: Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption official website

　　In the 1970s, the Independent Commission Against Corruption had just been established, and its propaganda focused on changing citizens' attitudes toward corruption. The slogan "Stand up and report corruption" encouraged Hong Kong citizens to come forward and report corruption. It also promoted the reporting hotline 266 366. At that time, a mantra among Hong Kong citizens was, "266 366 is easy to remember and easy to read."

　　In the 1980s, the propaganda slogan "Why bother in the beginning when you knew the outcome earlier" was accompanied by a picture of a prison car, hoping to appeal to the public not to commit corruption by "relying on fear".

　　In the 1990s, in order to emphasize that integrity is the value of Hong Kong, the Independent Commission Against Corruption launched the well-known promotional video "Hong Kong is better than ICAC".

　　Later, the slogans "Hong Kong is better because you are with ICAC" and "Hong Kong is always better because you are with ICAC" were spread throughout the streets of Hong Kong.

What are the district offices that reach out to the community?

　　The Independent Commission Against Corruption has transformed Hong Kong from a center of corruption into a city of integrity. This is not only due to the popularity of the promotional video, but also the contribution of the regional offices.

  ICAC posters encourage members of the public to report corruption or make inquiries at district offices. Image source: Hong Kong Sing Tao Network

　　As a bridge between citizens and the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the district offices have face-to-face contact with citizens and close ties with regional organizations to widely disseminate the message of combating corruption and promoting integrity in the community.

　　In addition to coordinating specific anti-corruption projects, each district office also organizes regional public participation and anti-corruption activities to win more citizens and regional groups’ trust and support for the ICAC’s work, and to encourage citizens to report corruption.

　　Moreover, each district office can also provide services for accepting corruption reports and inquiries for the convenience of the public. Since most of the reports are made in person and with names, the proportion that can be traced is quite high.

How to enable whistleblowers to report "worry-free"?

The picture shows the facilities in the video interview room of the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption. Photo by Li Zhihua

　　The Independent Commission Against Corruption ensures the security of personal information of whistleblowers and also simplifies the reporting process in the following ways.

　　No sufficient evidence is required: To report corruption in Hong Kong, the reporter does not need to have sufficient evidence. The reporter only needs to state the suspected corruption incident that he is aware of, and the Independent Commission Against Corruption will follow up.

　　There is no need to worry about the leakage of personal information or complaint information: all reported information will only be stored in confidential files, and only authorized persons can read the information on a "need to know" basis, so the whistleblower does not need to worry about the leakage of personal information or complaint information. vent.

The unique triangular table design of the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption video interview room reduces the sense of confrontation during the interview process. Photo by Zhang Yu published by China News Service

　　No appointment or form filling required: Whistleblowers do not need to make an appointment or fill in any forms. They only need to contact the ICAC’s 24-hour reporting center or district office and report the complaint to the duty officer.

Over the past 50 years, major corruption cases have been solved repeatedly

　　Since its establishment in 1974, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has handled a number of corruption cases that have had a significant impact on Hong Kong's anti-corruption history, including: the 26-block public housing corruption case, the Detective Hua corruption case, the Gerber case, the bribery case of senior legal officials, and the Ning Group fraud case...

  Image source: Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption Facebook account

　　"Inviting you to drink coffee with the ICAC" has also become a thing that frightens corrupt elements, because if the ICAC invites you to drink coffee, it means that the ICAC is asking you to assist in the investigation.

　　Hong Kong has successfully "transformed" from a city where corruption was rampant in the past into a clean city and has become an internationally renowned anti-corruption pioneer. The anti-corruption work of the Independent Commission Against Corruption has been highly praised internationally.

　　After 50 years of hard work, the ICAC’s half-century anti-corruption history continues to illuminate Hong Kong’s path to integrity. The 50 years of trials and hardships have witnessed the ICAC’s determination to fear no power and defend a clean society. (over)