6.
C
&
1.
own direct control of PRC enterprises. But what are the alternatives, and how can they be made to work?
Accountability is the issue for corruption in government
too: -
1
"The rules' for accountability and responsibility which
the market sets so readily in a market economy like Hong Kong cannot easily be determined by bureaucratic rules. A bureaucracy may need a set of mechanical rules to promote accountability. Yet, where there is no clear accountability, the opportunity for corruption may develop. In Hong Kong, the lubrication theory of corruption is sometimes used to argue that a system which is potentially inefficient can be made potentially efficient through bribery."
"The problem of accountability of and within structures is a problem common to bureaucracies. As soon as ICAC officers began to ask questions about corruption within government departments, they found that they were asked who was responsible for particular policies and attendant actions. Corruption is obviously less likely to thrive in situations in which clear lines of accountability have been developed.
With Hong Kong's changing political system, the whole issue of "preventing unethical behaviour in government" (to quote the title of an article ) will become very relevant. Conflict-of-interest laws, codes of ethics, "sunshine laws" on financial disclosure, open meetings, freedom of information and access laws, and governmental ethics standards are matters which could be rather important in due course. As the Hong Kong Standard said so clearly in a recent and sweetly phrased leading article:-
"Many sectors of the Hong Kong community are already
practised in the fine arts of lying, cheating, corruption, rumour-mongering, the sending of anonymous letters and the dissemination of fatuous insinuations and allegations. These are part and parcel of every-day life in this most unusual place. Now we will see some of these questionable talents brought to bear in the political arena.
It
Educational Programmes:
The educational function in this regard is one which could be discussed imaginatively. I was impressed by the following quotation from an ICAC glossy handbook. I would like to see