“To combat corruption, good laws and good organization are essential, but I put my trust principally in the services of sound men” –Sir Murray Macelhose ; former Governor of Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong there is an ICAC. ICAC stands for International Commission against Corruption. It is the foundation stone for their development. Hong Kong has the world’s third largest financial centre. First one is in USA, second one is in London, and the fourth one is in Tokyo.
Hong Kong in the 1960’s was still in the early stages of development. Plagued with problems of overpopulation, abject poverty, an influx of refugees from mainland China, organized crime and illegal gambling, corruption and bribery were part and parcel of life in Hong Kong and the Royal Hong Kong police were the ringleaders of this culture of corruption.
At that time the problem of corruption was very serious in the public sector. Vivid examples included ambulance attendants demanding tea money before picking up a sick person and fireman soliciting water money before they would turn on the hoses to put out a fire. Even hospital amahs asked for tips before they gave patients a bedpan or a glass of water. Offering bribes to the right officials was also necessary for the application of public housing, schooling and other public services. Corruption was particularly serious in the Police force. Corrupt police officers covered up vice, gambling and drug activities. Social law and order was under threat. Many in the community had fallen victims to corruption.
In 1973, Mr. Peter Godber Chief Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of the Kowloon district was implicated in a corruption scandal which upon further investigation, found him in possession over 4.32 million HKD. Mr. Godber’s far- reaching influence and power saw that the case was stalled at early step and despite strict orders not to leave Hong Kong while the case was pending; Mr. Godber managed to bypass investigative and immigration authorities and fled to England.
A once dormant and passive civil society was in uproar and took to the streets in protest of a system which had been stripped down to its bare corrupt parts, and demanded that the Government take immediate steps in combating the Rule Of Corruption which had infiltrated all levels of society and state. This eventually led to the establishment of the ICAC.
Bribery and corruption are common practices in Sri Lanka top to bottom and school to burial ground. We have to change this.
