ICAC Commissioner Dr Timothy Tong Hin-ming led a delegation to visit Beijing on Monday (May 17) to exchange views on anti-corruption work and explore opportunities for furthering cooperation with anti-corruption authorities.

In Beijing, the ICAC delegation called on the Ministry of Supervision and the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention. At a meeting with Ms Ma Wen, Minister of Supervision and Head of National Bureau of Corruption Prevention, Dr Tong and Ms Ma exchanged their views on enhancing mutual cooperation in anti-corruption work.

During the meeting, Ms Ma briefed the delegation on the latest work of the ministry, including various development projects facilitated by substantial resources from the government during the financial crisis, as well as reconstruction works in the wake of the Sichuan earthquake. Ms Ma also shared her views on strengthening supervision of such projects.

Dr Tong agreed that the use of funds and resources in the quake reconstruction projects must be subject to tight supervision and scrutiny, as effective monitoring was fundamental to the prevention of corruption.

The ICAC Commissioner also pointed out that the ICAC would continue to take a proactive approach in the fight against corruption internationally. In line with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, international organisations, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the European Anti-Fraud Office, had advocated the founding of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) under the auspices of the Austrian Government. The Commissioner and Dr Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International, were elected as the vice-chairmen of the International Senior Advisory Board of the IACA.

Dr Tong added that the ICAC would step up liaison with the Mainland and other jurisdictions the world over by continuing to assist in the training of graft fighters.

In addition, the ICAC delegation also paid a visit to the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, and met with its head of discipline inspection group Wang Lili to explore opportunities for cooperation in promoting anti-corruption work. Since 2009, ICAC's TV drama series "ICAC Investigators" were telecast on China Central Television, attracting satisfactory viewership.

During its visit in Beijing, the delegation also met with Dr Wang Yanzhong, Director-General of Supervision Office of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and other academics, including Professors Yu Hongjun and Li Chengyan of the Peking University; and Professor Ren Jianming of the Tsinghua University. In addition, Dr Tong also met with master and doctoral degree students of Peking University in a seminar, where they exchanged views on anti-corruption work.

Following Beijing, the ICAC Commissioner proceeded to Dujiangyan in Sichuan Province, where he was briefed on the mechanism of supervision and corruption prevention in relation to quake reconstruction projects funded by the Hong Kong Government.

In Chengdu, the Commissioner met with Mr Wei Hong, Vice Governor of Sichuan Province, and Mr Xu Bo, Director of Supervision Department, to exchange views on the supervision of construction projects and corruption prevention work. The ICAC also presented two Best Practice Modules respectively on quality control testing for the construction industry and the management of works consultancies to the Supervision Department.

The Commissioner added that since Sichuan Province was a popular spot for investment for Hong Kong businessmen, the ICAC would step up liaison with the province, in a bid to fostering good corporate governance and heightening their awareness to and abiding by the laws of the Mainland.

Senior officials accompanying Dr Tong on his visit included Ms Julie Mu Fee-man, Director of Community Relations; Mrs Jean Au Yeung Lui Miu-kwan, Director of Corruption Prevention; Mr Ricky Yau Shu-chun, Assistant Director of Operations; and Ms Yvonne Mui Yee-yu, Senior Staff Officer of the Centre of Anti-Corruption Studies. The delegation will return to Hong Kong on Sunday (May 23).