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Boost to public confidence

The new guidelines issued by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Wednesday for handling potential conflict-of-interest cases involving politically appointed officials (POAs) will give a timely boost to the public's confidence in the existing declaration of interests system, which has been the center of attention and debate following some disputed cases of late.

By expanding the definition of "private interests" far beyond pecuniary interests and extending their coverage to almost all personal and social ties, the new guidelines will effectively remove all loopholes or grey areas, which have been partly blamed for the recent rows over possible conflict-of-interest scenarios involving several political appointees, including development chief Paul Chan Mo-po and his political assistant Henry Ho Kin-chung.

The inclusion of all circumstances in which a relationship can influence a political appointee's judgment in carrying out his/her official duties, or may reasonably be perceived as having such influence, is all the more relevant today, as the public have heightened their expectation of officials' integrity, and have higher standards for their political ethics.

The clear-cut criteria for the Chief Executive to follow in determining a conflict-of-interest case and the well-defined course of action he will take to deal with a confirmed case - including relieving a political appointee from the task that may have given rise to the conflict - will undoubtedly help enhance the transparency of the process of handling a conflict case. Transparency, rather than declaration, has been the focus of the controversy in the development chief's case.

These guidelines are stringent enough to screen out those who take up public office with the underlying intention of pursuing private interests. Calls by some government critics for the Chief Executive to unveil all details of the process of his handling a conflict case are unjustifiable as this will discourage many able persons, particularly those from the business sector, from taking up public office.

Upon effective implementation, these new guidelines will go a long way in upholding the integrity of the SAR government, which Hong Kong has prided itself on, and which has become the envy of many cities in the world.

The author is a current affairs commentator.

(HK Edition 08/08/2013 page1)