Chief Executive John Lee today met Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna Ghada Fathi Waly.

Mr Lee welcomed Ms Waly as she and a delegation are visiting Hong Kong to attend the 8th Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Symposium that began today, and sign the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the UNODC with the ICAC to strengthen collaboration on international anti-corruption.

He said the UNODC’s dedication to leading its member countries to combat drugs, organised crime and terrorism has been highly valued, adding that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to work with the agency to promote experience-sharing among their anti-graft counterparts and advance the international anti-corruption cause together.     

Noting that Hong Kong is one of the cleanest cities in the world, Mr Lee attributed it to the Hong Kong SAR Government’s determination, a robust legal system and public support.

He emphasised that the ICAC strives to strengthen liaison with overseas counterparts to push forward the effective implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, promoting Hong Kong's anti-corruption achievements to the global community and the international graft-fighting collaborations.

As part of these efforts, the ICAC has joined the UNODC's Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities to share its anti-corruption experiences with other representatives from various places.

The Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption, established earlier this year, co-organised an international anti-corruption training programme with the network to provide a learning platform for graft fighters from all over the world.

The Chief Executive noted that with the support of the central government, the ICAC Commissioner has been President of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities since 2022.

He also explained that the ICAC co-hosted the symposium with the association to assemble representatives of anti-corruption agencies and experts around the world to exchange views on global strategies in anti-graft work.