Corruption ran rampant in Hong Kong until the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in 1974, the world's largest anti-corruption body. Armed with draconian powers, the Commission quickly scored notable successes in combatting corruption. This book examines the history and nature of corruption in the Colony both before and after the ICAC was established-the cases celebres of the past and their bizarre cast of characters, the riots and the retaliations. Lethbridge also analyzes the impact of the ICAC on the public and private sectors in Hong Kong.

In January 1980, a young police officer named John MacLennan committed suicide in his Ho Man Tin flat. His death came mere hours before he was to be arrested for committing homosexual acts still, at that point, illegal in Hong Kong. But this was more than the desperate act of a young man, ashamed and afraid; both his death and the subsequent investigation were a smokescreen for a scandal that went to the heart of the establishment. MacLennan came to Hong Kong from Scotland during a tumultuous time in Hong Kong’s history. The governorship of Sir Murray MacLehose was to be a time of reform and progress, but with that remit came the determination of many to suppress scandals and silence those who stirred up trouble. Both the life and death of John MacLennan seemed to many of those in power to threaten the stability of one of Britain’s last colonies. The second edition includes a foreword by Christine Loh (former undersecretary for the environment, former legislator, and founder of Civic Exchange) as well as updated information from new interviews with key people involved in the case. With endorsements from human rights researchers and the local community, this book provides insight into Hong Kong during a time of social unrest and corruption scandals, a time when homosexuality and paedophilia were often considered interchangeable and both offered easy targets for blackmail. “Collett’s vivid account of the MacLennan case and its aftermath allows us to rediscover an episode that is important not only to Hong Kong gay history but to the history of law and criminal justice in a colonial context more broadly. A fascinating read.” – Dr Marco Wan, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Programme in Law and Literary Studies, University of Hong Kong “Nigel Collet has written a period masterpiece.” – Christine Loh, Former undersecretary for the environment, former legislator, and founder of Civic Exchange

This thoroughly researched study provides an invaluable account of Hong Kong's political evolution from its founding as a British colony to the present. Exploring the interplay between colonial, capitalist, communist, and democratic forces in shaping Hong Kong's political institutions and culture, Suzanne Pepper offers a fresh perspective on the territory's development and a gripping account of the transition from British to Chinese rule. The author carries her narrative forward through the lives of significant figures, capturing the personalities and issues central to understanding Hong Kong's political history. Bringing a balanced view to her often contentious subject, she places Hong Kong's current partisan debates between democrats and their opponents within the context of China's ongoing search for a viable political form. The book considers Beijing's increasing intervention in local affairs and focuses on the challenge for Hong Kong's democratic reformers in an environment where ultimate political power resides with the communist-led mainland government and its appointees.

The financial markets of Hong Kong and Singapore are leading examples in Asian financial development and regulation. Shanghai, which is developing its Free Trade Pilot Zone, is equally aiming to incorporate a sophisticated service market in order to upgrade, reform and reinvigorate the current economic model of development in China in the aftermath of the global financial and economic crisis. Streamlining administrative regulation is a precondition for its financial market to find root and play a central role in Asia and beyond. Finance, Rule of Law and Development in Asia offers a contextualized approach to the economic and political realities within Asian financial markets, especially in these three different jurisdictions. The volume adopts a comparative and precise account on the prospects and challenges in further developing these financial centres.

A combination of scholarly, commercial, and popular interests has generated a large quantity of literature on every aspect of Chinese life during the past two decades. This bibliography reflects these combined interests; it is broken up into sections by subject headings, and cross-references refer the researcher to related topics.

Under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong the previous capitalist system and life-style shall remain unchanged for 50 years. This concept has been embedded in the Basic Law of Hong Kong. The future of the Common Law judicial system in Hong Kong depends on the perceptions of it by Hong Kong's Chinese population; judicial developments prior to July 1, 1997, when Hong Kong passes from British to Chinese control; and the Basic Law itself. All of these critical issues are addressed in this book. It applies survey and statistical analysis to the study of the attitudes toward, and the values inherent to, the Common Law judicial system in the unique cultural and economic milieu of Hong Kong in transition.

'Graycar and Smith's excellent edited volume studies corruption as a pervasive, global phenomenon. The chapters move from general overviews to in-depth studies of corruption-prone sectors such as forestry, financial markets, public procurement, and trade in diamonds and art. The volume is an important, contribution to the international study of corruption that mixes scholarly analysis with practical recommendations for the control and prevention of corruption – both international initiatives and country – or sector-specific policies.' – Susan Rose-Ackerman, Yale Law School, US 'Corruption is on top of the agendas of practitioners and scholars in public administration all over the world. This volume addresses questions no one can neglect and comes up with answers we should not miss.' – Leo Huberts, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands 'This Handbook will serve as an invaluable resource for scholars, students and public officials interested in understanding corruption and its control.' – James B. Jacobs, NYU School of Law, US Corruption is a global phenomenon with costs estimated to be in the trillions of dollars. This source of original research and policy analysis deals with the most important concepts and empirical evidence in foreign corrupt practices globally. Handbook of Global Research and Practice in Corruption includes research from all continents and provides a critical analysis of the key issues of corruption and its control. Through rigorous analysis and theoretical foundations, this book provides a multi-disciplinary and international account of corruption from the perspectives of public policy, criminal law and criminology, as well as considering principles of prevention and control in both the public and private sectors. With original and empirical analyses, this unique book will appeal to academics, researchers and students in international business and international law, staff of crime and corruption commissions and police integrity agencies, as well as international organisations such as the World Bank, IMF, Transparency International and the World Economic Forum.