ICAC boss reveals succession failures

A leadership crisis at the Independent Commission Against Corruption was tackled by the Legislative Council's Security Committee yesterday.

As the anti-graft agency tackled accusations levelled at some of the most powerful people in the city last summer, it found itself in the "less than ideal situation" of having to bring someone back from retirement in order to fill a vital position.

ICAC commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu explained how his deputy and head of operations, Daniel Li Ming-chak, retired on July 19 last year - nearly seven months after he had been due to retire at the age of 60 and after his contract had been extended twice while he looked into allegations that former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen received favours from tycoons.

Two directors answer directly to the head of operations - one in charge of government investigations and the other overseeing allegations of corruption in the private sector. The former would have been perfect to step into Li's shoes - only he was also about to retire.

A succession committee was set up which concluded the director in charge of private sector investigations, Rebecca Li Bo-lan, did not have the necessary experience at senior level.

She had only been serving at that rank for six months.

The succession committee decided there was no one within the agency experienced enough to take on Li's role, so they sought out Ryan Wong Sai-chiu in retirement - the previous director of government investigations.