HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (forth right), Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Danny Woo Ying-ming (forth left), and other guests attend the commemorative plaque unveiling ceremony for the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption at the ICAC headquarters building in North Point on Feb 21 2024. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - A ceremony was held on Wednesday by Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption for the establishment of the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption.

The new academy is aimed at spearheading both local and global anti-corruption training initiatives and fostering experience sharing, while consolidating Hong Kong's international status as an anti-corruption center.

HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu speaks during the commemorative plaque unveiling ceremony for the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption at the ICAC headquarters building in North Point on Feb 21 2024. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, noted at the ceremony that integrity is pivotal to ensuring the continuing prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and realizing Hong Kong's essential contributions to national development.

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The new academy will boost Hong Kong's status as an anti-corruption center, while promoting the clean society of Hong Kong, social stability and the value that Hong Kong places on integrity and the rule of law, Lee said.

Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Danny Woo Ying-ming speaks during the commemorative plaque unveiling ceremony for the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption at the ICAC headquarters building in North Point on Feb 21 2024. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

ICAC Commissioner Danny Woo Ying-ming said at the ceremony that the ICAC was fully aware of the importance of international cooperation in anti-corruption work. The academy will offer systematic and professional training for graft fighters worldwide, and bring together scholars at home and abroad to share anti-corruption experience.

The logo of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is seen during the commemorative plaque unveiling ceremony for the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption at the ICAC headquarters building in North Point on Feb 21 2024. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

As an inaugural course, the academy, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, is co-hosting the "Professional Development Program on Financial Investigation and Asset Recovery". The program has attracted 35 anti-corruption professionals from about 20 jurisdictions.

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The academy has concluded memorandums of understanding with five esteemed universities on the Chinese mainland, the Macao Special Administrative Region and the HKSAR, propelling anti-corruption research and fostering talents exchange.