It Happened Here: Birth of ICAC, 15 February 1974
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established on February 15, 1974, to combat the then-prevalent corruption that plagued our city.
While Hong Kong experienced economic growth in the 1960s, Civil Service salaries were kept low, enticing some untoward officials to take advantage of their positions to supplement their wages. The Hong Kong Police had previously had an anti-corruption branch, but it did little to reduce corruption, and corrupt police officers were found to be offering protection to vice, gambling and drug activities.
A particular example was Peter Fitzroy Godber, a senior officer in the police, who had amassed no less than $4.3 million in overseas bank accounts. In response to a police investigation, Godber snuck out of Hong Kong and escaped to London, leading to a public outcry. The then Governor Sir Murray MacLehose realised the necessity of an independent anti-corruption organisation and outlined such a venture in a speech delivered to the Legislative Council in October 1973.
The ICAC was then created. Unlike the old anti-corruption branch, the ICAC would be answerable to only the Governor of Hong Kong. Sir Jack Cater was the founding commissioner. The ICAC expended their utmost efforts on Godber’s case and he was arrested on April 29, 1974. After several hearings, the ICAC finally won the case and Godber was sentenced to four years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Jinxin Ma
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