ABSTRACT

This book analyses central questions in the continuing debate about success factors in corruption prevention and the efficacy and value of anti-corruption agencies (ACAs). How do ACAs become valued within a polity? What challenges must they overcome? What conditions account for their success and failure? What contributions can corruption prevention make to good governance? And in what areas might they have little or no effect on the quality of governance? With these questions in mind, the authors examine the experience of Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), widely regarded as one of the few successful examples of an ACA. The book is grounded in an analysis of ICAC documents and surveys, the authors’ survey of social attitudes towards corruption in Hong Kong, and interviews with former officials.

chapter 1|16 pages

Concepts, approaches and institutions

part I|38 pages

Corruption prevention in colonial Hong Kong

chapter 2|18 pages

Corruption in Hong Kong, 1842–1973

chapter 3|18 pages

Crisis and challenge

The early years of the ICAC

part II|96 pages

Success factors in corruption prevention

chapter 4|17 pages

Political will

chapter 5|18 pages

Organising for success

chapter 6|20 pages

Enforcing the law

chapter 7|19 pages

Changing perceptions of corruption

chapter 8|20 pages

The virtuous circle

part III|58 pages

Corruption prevention and governance

chapter 9|19 pages

Good governance

chapter 10|20 pages

Bad governance

chapter 11|17 pages

Institutionalising ACAs

Constraints and possibilities