The “Corruption and the Rule of Law” Conference held at Wynn Hotel

Mr. Fred Kan, Senior Partner, was a key organizer of the “Corruption and the Rule of Law” Conference held at Wynn Hotel, Macau on 14 - 15 May 2010.

This historical conference was organized by the Macau Lawyers Association (AAM) and the International Association of Lawyers (UIA) and attracted attendance of over 400 lawyers and government officials from Europe, Australia, Africa, Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

According to Dr. Jorge Neto Valente, President of AAM, “although the extent of corruption in Macau is not as wide and deep as in many other places, there is always room for improvement. And besides the lessons we take from our own experience in fighting corruption, it is of utmost importance to learn with the experience of other jurisdictions. Lawyers are natural enemies of corruption. If corruption prevails, the rule of law does not work: lawyers are dispensable.”

Mr. Vasco Fong, Commissioner of the Commission Against Corruption of Macau addressed the conference on the situation in Macau. The conference also explored and analyzed the ways other jurisdictions tackle the same or similar problems. For example, Ms. Cândida Almeida, Deputy Attorney General and Director of the Central Department of Investigation and Prosecution of Portugal, a world-renowned fighter against corruption, spoke on her experience in Portugal. Mr. Anthony Neoh, former Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and former Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong spoke on the Hong Kong Corruption Amnesty of 1977.

Corruption has become one of the most important issues of the day, not just in Macau but also in all corners of the world where corruption erodes the basic foundation of society, creates public resentment and eventually topples governments.

Corruption and the rule of law are closely linked. The fight against corruption must be within the framework of the rule of law. The general topics of the conference therefore dealt with: (1) Corruption and its impact on modern society; (2) Should special procedural rules apply to the fight against corruption? (3) Corruption in an international context; and (4) Sentencing in corruption cases, restitution, recourse for victims.

Mr. Kan, as a member of the Macau Law Reform Consultative Committee, was invited to summarize at the end of the two-day conferences, the key points made by the speakers.

The conference was attended by 10 members of the firm.