Corruption has become a serious global problem. But few people seem concerned about it. Maybe the others are unaware of the situation or they cannot pinpoint when the law is being broken. In the simplest terms, corruption can be defined as the abuse of power or position for the purpose of gaining a private benefit or advantage, which in turn harms the interests of third parties. Apart from money, this 'benefit' can take the form of 'protection', special treatment, promotion or other favours. Individuals fall into the bribery trap for a number of reasons, but one of the most common is the desire for a higher standard of living. The easiest way to achieve it is by abusing one's position of trust. Gifts are a common form of bribery. There is nothing wrong with giving something to a friend, and a business relationship between two people may develop into a friendship. When a gift is accepted as a pure gesture of friendship, with no ulterior motives on either side, there is no problem. However, this exchange may have an effect on the receiver's conscience; he could feel the need to repay it. What better way to do this than by doing the other party a favour in their business relationship? It is at this point, where repayment is considered essential, that this innocent gift becomes a bribe. But why is society so concerned about the effects of corruption? The answer is simple. Corruption has serious consequences for the economy as a whole. In the public sector, corruption will lead to under-development and inefficiency (a corrupt police force would be ineffective in dealing with crime). Moreover, the corrupt end up enjoying the benefits of government services while depriving the others of their rights. Elsewhere, the result is huge differences in income and wealth, together with the possibility of wielding power and authority. Small businesses and the poor, unable to prod the official channels to work in their interests, end up at the mercy of capriciousness and corruption and are forced to seek informal channels. In such an atmosphere, the size of the bribe determines success rather than the quality and competitive pricing of a product. It is not the reliability and integrity of the company or other gauges of genuine competence that matter, but rather the unscrupulousness of corrupt individuals. We can thus see corruption is a serious problem that affects us all. This is clearly reflected in the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. Controlling it, although difficult, is an important task. No doubt we will see a lot more action against corruption in the future. Ms Chugani is a Year Two law student at the University of Hong Kong
