My Take | Hong Kong anti-corruption agency finally gets its tigers

Hong Kong has finally caught its own tigers. The ICAC has often been accused of going after the small fry. But Rafael Hui Si-yan, the government's former No 2, and property tycoon Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong are as big as they come.

The beleaguered Independent Commission Against Corruption has had to weather scandals and mounting political pressure in recent years. The conviction of Hui, Kwok and two other associates - and the substantial jail terms handed down yesterday - are a well-deserved vindication of its tenacious investigators.

The court victory is a much-needed boost to ICAC morale.

In paying tribute to the graft-buster, Mr Justice Andrew Macrae acknowledged yesterday it was the most complicated case he had ever presided over in his long career.

The ICAC has long been an institutional pillar of Hong Kong's rule of law. But in recent years it has suffered setbacks. It came under a cloud as its former chief Timothy Tong Hin-ming was heavily criticised after being found to have repeatedly breached internal guidelines over his lavish spending on entertainment. But to be fair, the investigations into Hui and Kwok began under Tong's tenure.

Meanwhile, pan-democratic politicians and their media allies such as Jimmy Lai Chee-ying's Next Media have abused the ICAC's rules for reporting alleged crimes. The shameful tactic involves someone filing a complaint against a political enemy. As the ICAC has to open a file whether it merits further investigation or not, pan-democratic lawmakers and Next Media then report that person is facing a probe.