Integrity Charter launched to promote integrity management in construction industry (with photos)

     The Integrity Charter was jointly launched today (September 24) by the Development Bureau (DEVB), the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to promote integrity management in the construction industry.

     Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Lam Sai-hung, said that the DEVB has all along been putting great emphasis on construction industry players' integrity. With a view to fostering integrity management in the construction sector and enhancing the quality of the approved public works contractors and specialist contractors, compliance with integrity requirements has been included as one of the admission requirements for the approved lists of public works contractors as promulgated in January this year. He expressed gratitude to the ICAC for its advice given to the DEVB in formulating such requirements for raising the industry's awareness on integrity management. He said he was also pleased to know that the CIC would include integrity management as one of the requirements in its Registered Specialist Trade Contractors Scheme.

     By early September, more than 300 approved contractors had submitted their integrity management policies to the DEVB. Mr Lam appealed to stakeholders of the industry to sign the charter and actively establish and implement integrity management systems. He added that with the concerted efforts of the DEVB, the ICAC and the CIC as well as other industry players on promoting integrity management, the professional image of Hong Kong's construction industry will be enhanced.

     At the ceremony, Mr Lam; the ICAC Commissioner, Mr Simon Peh; the Chairman of the CIC, Mr Chan Ka-kui; and the Executive Director of the CIC, Mr Albert Cheng, jointly launched the charter. Other guests to attend the ceremony include deputy directors of the works departments and the Housing Department as well as representatives of associations of the construction industry, public and private organisations and contractors.

     Details of the Integrity Charter are available at www.cpas.icac.hk/EN/Info/TP_Library?cate_id=10025.