Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the opening ceremony of ICAC Building in North Point this morning (December 8):

Commissioner, Mr Jia, ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the HKSAR Government, I extend a very warm welcome to Mr Jia Chunwang, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and to other distinguished guests. I know that some of you have traveled quite a distance to be here with us today. Thank you very much for coming.  
 
Today is a very special day for ICAC, and a special day also for Hong Kong. This modern, eco-friendly building is not only a symbol of the ICAC’s independence and permanence, it also underpins the unwavering commitment of the Hong Kong SAR Government to upholding important core values that underpin our success – a clean and efficient administration, a level playing field for business, and zero tolerance for corruption. Personally I believe the rapid economic growth in Hong Kong in the 1970s was due in no small measure to the establishment of ICAC in Hong Kong in maintaining a clean bureaucratic and business environment here.  

Since its inception in 1974, the ICAC’s dedication and determination to tackle corruption and crime has been a critical factor in Hong Kong’s development as an international hub for business and finance. Companies come to Hong Kong and invest their money here because they have trust and confidence in our legal system, and because they know we run a clean ship.
 
Now that ICAC has this splendid new headquarters, complete with advanced operational and training facilities, it will be even better equipped to train officers to tackle the challenges ahead. I am sure that ICAC officers and staff will continue to discharge their duties “without fear or favour” to maintain Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre, and as a clean economy.

Ladies and gentlemen, just now I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with some of the frontline staff working in the ICAC Report Centre. These are the heroes behind the scenes. Some have been working here for more than ten years, some have just joined the service, but all of them share the same core value and enthusiasm for the work of ICAC. They all have a strong sense of their mission and its vital importance to the future of our city. We are lucky to have such enthusiastic and dedicated people in Hong Kong. The new ICAC headquarters is a fantastic building, but at the end of the day it’s the people working inside the building who really count. I know that I can rely on the Commissioner and all members of ICAC to continue your fine tradition of service excellence to the people of Hong Kong.

     Congratulations to all of you in ICAC!

Ends/Saturday, December 8, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:36

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