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Willa Wu

There are “no signs” of collective corruption in Hong Kong’s civil service, the city’s anti-graft agency has said, following the arrest of several government employees in a bribery case involving procurement projects for public hospitals.
The Civil Service Bureau also said on Monday that it logged a year-on-year 20 per cent decrease in pursuable corruption complaints in 2023, with only 42 cases involving its 170,000-strong force leading to related convictions between 2019 and 2023.
The bureau shared the figures in a bid to reassure lawmakers at a panel meeting discussing anti-graft efforts, days after the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) revealed that government employees were among eight people arrested in the bribery case.
The suspects included members of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.
Corinna Wong, the commission’s community relations director, said its own data found there was no indication of collective corruption in the civil service.
“The data also show no signs of resurgence [of collective corruption]. So everyone can be rest assured regarding the integrity of public servants,” she said.
According to the paper submitted by the bureau to the Legislative Council, the agency received 298 pursuable corruption complaints last year, a 20 per cent decrease from the 372 logged in 2022.
The number of cases for consideration of disciplinary or administrative action referred by the ICAC to government bureaus and departments fell from 116 to 62 over the same period, the document showed.
The bureau also said 42 civil servants had been convicted of corruption-related offences between 2019 and 2023.
Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan told lawmakers that among the 42, 11 were dismissed, four were forced to retire and three received severe reprimands that barred them from promotions or appointments for three to five years.
She added that 20 had left the government whilst being convicted, another had resigned beforehand and three were still undergoing disciplinary procedures.
Several lawmakers questioned whether government workers were aware of the potential risks when handling official purchases, saying procurement was an area “most prone to corruption issues”.

But Yeung argued there was “no room for misunderstanding or confusion”, as the government had a very clear procurement policy, adding authorities would work alongside the ICAC to regularly review current practices.
Lawmaker Ronick Chan Chun-ying asked whether the government offered sufficient training, noting efforts only covered slightly more than 32,000 civil servants in 2023 – about 18 per cent of workforce.
Minister Yeung replied that such training was only necessary for public servants involved in matters related to handling interests, but stressed that newcomers would receive an orientation from the ICAC about combating corruption.


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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong anti-graft agency says ‘no signs’ of collective corruption among civil service

The Independent Commission Against Corruption earlier revealed government employees were among eight suspects arrested in a bribery case. Photo: Jelly Tse

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung has said there is “no room for misunderstanding or confusion” among government employees over procurement policy. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong government staff among 8 arrested in bribery case involving procurement projects

The headquarters of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department in Kowloon Bay. Photo: SCMP

Strong core values just as vital as law enforcement in anti-corruption fight, Hong Kong’s top judge says, as ICAC expands international work

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung says not all behaviour involving corruption can be considered a crime, but the insidious nature of such actions harms the rule of law “beyond measure”. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong anti-graft body charges insurance agent turned civil servant over misdirecting inquiry, conspiracy to defraud

The Independent Commission Against Corruption says Yau Sing-ho has been charged with one count of using documents with intent to deceive his principal, a violation of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. Photo: Jelly Tse

The Immigration Department began investigating Yau Sing-ho in 2020 over concerns he was working in another job without permission. Photo: Fung Chang

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Society

Civil Service Bureau also fends off grilling from lawmakers on anti-graft efforts, days after ICAC arrests government staff in bribery case


Civil Service Bureau also fends off grilling from lawmakers on anti-graft efforts, days after ICAC arrests government staff in bribery case.


ICAC

Legislative Council of Hong Kong