Hong Kong urged to act on 'trend' of public-service corruption
Watchdog head says lack of pensions in sector may be driving problem
The head of a watchdog looking into the operations of the city's graft-buster has called for attention to be paid to a worrying trend of public servants abusing their power for personal advantage.
Michael Sze Cho-cheung, chairman of the ICAC operations review committee, warned that people who entered the public service after its pension system was changed in 2000 might be more inclined to act corruptly.
"The trend of public-office holders taking advantage of their positions and doing what they should not be doing deserves attention," he said yesterday.
"The gains they get now may seem trivial, but more civil servants will abuse their power for personal gain if we do not treat this seriously now."
Sze was particularly concerned that people who joined the service after June 1, 2000, might feel more inclined to abuse their power in office in order to build up retirement nest eggs.
That was the date the pension scheme for new recruits switched to the Civil Service Provident Fund - to which the government contributes 15 to 25 per cent of the wages of those with more than three years' service. In comparison, the Mandatory Provident Fund requires a 5 per cent contribution from employers.
The mode of corruption had evolved, Sze said, from accepting advantages to making personal gains involving a conflict of interest while discharging public duties, as signalled by high-profile allegations against senior officials in recent years.