Promise and Peril in Combating Corruption

Hong Kong's Icac

Dados Bibliográficos

ID9764028
AutoresMax J Skidmore (0000-0001-9057-3854, autor correspondente)
Ano1996
Volume547
Fascículo1
Páginas118-130
Data de publicação1996-09-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThe Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0002-7162 • E-ISSN: 1552-3349
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0002716296547001010
OpenAlexW2066227874
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas13
Referências citadas1

Since its founding, Hong Kong had been troubled with corruption. Eventually, the corruption became so serious as to threaten some of the basic institutions of society. In response, the government attempted an approach different from its past efforts. It created an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which immediately began to have considerable success. ICAC not only eliminated much of the corruption, but it succeeded in changing public attitudes. Although its powers are enormous, ICAC by and large has operated within the restraints set for it. Nevertheless, its existence is a potential danger. Its powers could be abused even in a society characterized by moderation and the rule of law. In a society whose leaders are less restrained, no legal changes would be required to operate ICAC as the enforcement agency of a police state. Its vast authority therefore becomes a direct, not merely an implied, threat

Agency (philosophy · Commission · Enforcement · Government (linguistics · Language change · Political science · Sociology · State (computer science · Hong Kong and Taiwan Politics · Law · Public Administration