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accountants, estate agents, dealers in precious metals and precious stones, trust and company service providers, and non-profit organisations.

In 2010, the ND organised a series of training seminars and workshops for different non-financial sectors to raise practitioners' awareness of AML/CFT. Over 2 500 practitioners from relevant sectors attended the seminars and workshops.

The ND has been discussing with the non-financial sectors to formulate a regulatory framework for AML/CFT that works best for Hong Kong and complies with international standards. More preparatory work will be done for the introduction of legislation in due course.

Independent Commission Against Corruption

The year 2010 saw corruption kept well under control. Hong Kong upholds its reputation as one of the world's most corruption-free cities, with a clean civil service and a fair and robust business environment.

Among 178 regions polled in the Transparency International's (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index 2010, Hong Kong was ranked the 13th cleanest place. The TI is a non-government global civil society organisation based in Germany.

Through a holistic strategy of law enforcement, prevention and education, the ICAC fights corruption without fear or favour. The anti-corruption agency has its independent status guaranteed under the Basic Law which stipulates that its commissioner is directly accountable to the Chief Executive.

The commission continued to enjoy strong public support. Non-anonymous complaints increased to 74 per cent in 2010 compared with 69 per cent in 2009. Ninety-eight per cent of respondents to an opinion survey expressed support for the ICAC. Positive feedback was received from over 3 200 visitors participating in the ICAC Open Day held during the year.

Internationally, Hong Kong gained wide recognition for its accomplishment in containing corruption. The ICAC's commissioner and deputy commissioner were appointed top advisors to the first International Anti-Corruption Academy set up in Vienna to train up a new generation of graft fighters.

During the year, the Centre of Anti-Corruption Studies set up by the ICAC hosted an international conference on collaborative governance and integrity. management in Hong Kong and signed academic co-operation agreements with anti-corruption research centres under the Chinese Academy of Social Science and Mainland universities.

To strengthen collaboration with the ICAC's Mainland counterparts, the commissioner led a delegation to the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention in the Mainland. During the visit, good practices in managing construction works were shared with authorities there responsible for reconstruction projects following the earthquake in Sichuan Province. The ICAC also co-organised a seminar in Harbin on the management of public finance with the Mainland's Ministry of Supervision and the Commission Against Corruption of Macao.