Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hosted a record-breaking professional anti-corruption training course for 60 officers from the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority of Saudi Arabia (Nazaha). The 10-day programme, conducted at the ICAC's Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption (HKIAAC), sets two new benchmarks: it is the largest international training course by participant count and features the highest number of attendees from a single overseas anti-corruption agency. This collaboration underscores the deepening ties between the two bodies following their 2024 Memorandum of Understanding and aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader Vision 2030 initiative to enhance national integrity.

The training was launched under the supervision of ICAC Commissioner Woo Ying-ming, who emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership. The delegation follows a pilot attachment programme initiated last year, where two Nazaha officers spent one year with the ICAC to gain firsthand experience of Hong Kong's anti-corruption practices. This new course expands that practical exchange to a larger group, aiming to equip participants with advanced skills in combating graft across government, public bodies, and the private sector.

Curriculum and Key Topics

The course curriculum focuses on practical investigation techniques and preventive strategies. Experienced ICAC officers led sessions on financial investigation, forensic accounting, and asset recovery. A significant portion of the training addressed modern challenges, with information technology experts providing in-depth instruction on computer forensics and cryptocurrency investigation. On the prevention front, the ICAC shared its latest strategies for corruption prevention through digitalisation, alongside methods for publicity and community education.

Study Visits and Institutional Engagement

Beyond classroom instruction, the programme included study visits to key local institutions to demonstrate how integrity values are integrated into various sectors. Participants visited the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation. These visits aimed to provide insights into regulatory systems and corporate governance practices within Hong Kong's financial and technological hubs.

A highlight of the itinerary was a study visit to the Qianhai area in Shenzhen, Mainland China. Commissioner Woo Ying-ming noted that Shenzhen serves as a hub for technology and innovation. The visit allowed participants to observe how technology is leveraged to enhance probity and inspire new ideas for integrity development in one of China's fastest-growing cities. Expert speakers from the Department of Justice and the Hong Kong Police Force also contributed, covering topics such as transnational legal cooperation and upholding integrity within law enforcement agencies.

Strategic Context

The opening ceremony was attended by Counselor Zhou Qian, Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Mr Mushari Almudarra, Vice-Consul of the Royal Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Their presence highlighted the diplomatic significance of the collaboration. By transferring Hong Kong's long-standing experience in upholding integrity in the commercial field to Saudi Arabia, the ICAC aims to reinforce Nazaha's capacity to combat corruption effectively, thereby supporting the Kingdom's economic and social transformation goals.