THE ICAC is pressing for urgent advice to plug a legislative loophole under which territory-related graft may be going unpunished.
Independent Commission Against Corruption Commissioner Bertrand de Speville believes the law does not sufficiently cover bribery outside Hong Kong.
At present, the ICAC is powerless to prosecute corruption matters related to private projects or individuals in Hong Kong where the offering, soliciting or acceptance of the bribe has taken place in another jurisdiction.
But the ICAC does have power if the offence committed outside Hong Kong relates to a civil servant.
It is understood the commission is concerned that, given the obvious potential for a corruption boom during the sovereignty transition period, private-sector graft within China with links to Hong Kong could flourish.
A submission by the ICAC says that all corruption that can be positively related to the territory should be made illegal.
