Hong Kong’s anti-corruption chief has said trust is the real currency of finance, with an official from mainland China’s watchdog pledging to continue fostering a clean business environment and deepen regional cooperation.
At an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) seminar on Tuesday, Danny Woo Ying-ming, commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), said corruption harmed prosperity at its core and attacked the very foundations of society.
“Integrity … is the unseen foundation that sustains prosperity, stability and hope,” he said.
“Among the many priorities for deepening reform and expanding high-standard opening up, integrity stands as a central and non-negotiable principle.”
The seminar on “Promoting Prosperity Through Integrity” is jointly organised by the Chinese National Commission of Supervision and the ICAC. Shenzhen will host the 2026 Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November.
Woo said the seminar would focus on how integrity builds trust, strengthens the business environment and supports equitable development.
He added that it would focus on three areas: ensuring integrity was practised daily rather than merely discussed, recognising that trust was the “real currency” of finance, and promoting clean cross-border investment and trade to attract global capital.