HK gov't fully supports anti-corruption efforts: chief executive

HONG KONG-- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Leung Chun-ying said on Monday that the Hong Kong SAR government fully supports local graft-buster Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

Addressing the 6th ICAC Symposium opening ceremony, Leung said that a number of international surveys continue to rank Hong Kong among the cleanest places in the world, and local community insists on upholding the core values, including a level playing field for all,the rule of law, an independent judiciary, and the firm belief that corruption in any form and at all levels cannot be tolerated.

"These values are embedded in our people's personal, business and public lives. They are rock solid in our community," he said.

Talking about a few widely reported corruption cases involving prominent members of local community in recent years, Leung said these cases reflect, and reaffirm, the independence of Hong Kong's judiciary and the robustness of the ICAC's anti-corruption efforts.

"The sentences imposed by the courts in these cases also sent a clear signal that corruption is not tolerated. And the manner in which these cases were investigated demonstrates the ICAC's determination to fight corruption without fear or favor, regardless of the background, status or position of those involved, " he said, adding that the ICAC's Annual Survey last year found that only 1.5 percent of respondents believed they had come across corruption in the previous 12 months.

Leung said corruption knows no borders, no boundaries, and the fight against it demands international collaboration -- strategies that embrace governments, unite organizations and educate law- enforcement colleagues.

The 6th ICAC Symposium will be held in Hong Kong from Monday to Wednesday. The theme of this year's symposium is "A future without corruption -- one vision, multiple strategies."