Timothy Tong scandal deals ‘distressing’ blow to ICAC: Carrie Lam
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 19 February, 2014, 4:18pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 19 February, 2014, 4:24pm
Tony Cheung [email protected]
Former anti-corruption chief Timothy Tong says he is aware of 'imperfections and inadequacies' during his five-year tenure but that his overspending 'was not a sin', at a Legislative Council select committee hearing in January. Photo: Sam Tsang
The spending scandal and criminal investigation surrounding former ICAC chief Timothy Tong Hin-ming have tarnished the reputation of the anti-graft agency, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor says, describing the state of affairs as “distressing and lamentable”.
But the government’s No 2 official rejected a call to look into whether people who entered the public service after its pension system was changed in 2000 might be more inclined to act corruptly.
Lam also dismissed a suggestion for tighter rules to deter former chief executives, ministers and regulators from receiving benefits after they retired.
Tong was appointed as a local delegate to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Beijing’s top advisory body, shortly before he was revealed to have spent lavishly on dinners and received gifts from mainland officials during his tenure at the Independent Commission Against Corruption between 2007 and 2012.
Referring to a Legislative Council report that condemned the “deplorable” overspending, Lam said: “The report revealed that the ICAC, under the leadership of its former chief, has shortcomings on handling official meals, travel and gifts.
“It affects, inevitably, the impression of the people as well as foreigners on the commission and [how] graft-free the city is.”
Citing remarks made by advisory committee on corruption chairman Chow Chung-kong last month, Lam said: “Chow said he found this very distressing and lamentable, and I deeply feel the same. But I believe that the ICAC will follow-up [on remedy work] under its current chief.”
Last month, chairman of the ICAC operations review committee Michael Sze Cho-cheung warned that a lack of pensions in the public sector might be driving civil servants to accept benefits.
Civic Party leader Alan Leong Kah-kit urged the government to look into the possible trend.
Lam said: “The integrity of civil servants has never depended on pensions alone.
“We have the system, the training and the punishment [mechanism] in place and we can update ... and improve these areas continuously.
“[But] we won’t change our integrity management [policy] based on whether we have pensions for them or not.”
In 2000, new recruits to the administration switched to the Civil Service Provident Fund – to which the government contributes 15 to 25 per cent of the wages of those with more than three years’ service. In comparison, the Mandatory Provident Fund requires a 5 per cent contribution from employers.
