Stephen Char Shik-ngor
Former ICAC Chief Investigator Stephen Char Shik-ngor joined the anti-corruption organization just after it was founded and served for 28 years. He is the only person to have held high-level positions in all three ICAC departments. Now a barrister and author of three books, Char considers himself an “anti-graft expert” and is an advocate for the ICAC, regularly giving anti-corruption talks to mainland officials. He tells Yannie Chan about his continuing faith in the ICAC and his thoughts on China.
My family used to be the wealthiest household in Jiangxi province. We had our own “banks,” tea leaf shops and pawn shops all over major cities in China. We owned a lot of land.
My father was captured during the Cultural Revolution. The instant he was let go, he escaped to Hong Kong. My mother and my siblings followed later, and I was born en route to Hong Kong.
I worked as an apprentice for a tailor at the age of 13, because my family needed the extra money. I was upset that my friends all got to study in high school.
I began at the Community Relations Department of the ICAC, but I really wanted to work in Operations. I repeatedly requested a transfer. Years later, the department had an opening for a secretary. After questioning why I, a senior staff member, had applied for a secretary post, the Chief at the time said I was better suited as an investigator—so I finally got my dream job and became a commander in the Operations Department.
I’ve had so many memorable cases that I can’t even name one in particular. I arrested so many different sorts of people, from junior and senior police officers to tycoons. They included Li Fook-shiu, chairman of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and Fat Bo, the leader of a triad gang that manufactured drugs.
What I’ve learnt is that I shouldn’t label people. Even though we do not accept these criminals’ behavior, it doesn’t follow that we shouldn’t accept them as a person. They may be loving sons or responsible dads.