Most Hong Kong residents know the letters ICAC. Far fewer know what actually happens inside the building — how investigations work, why the Commission was founded in 1974, or how a city once plagued by systemic corruption transformed itself into one of the cleanest economies in Asia within a single generation.
That story — of a society that chose integrity and fought for it — is one of Hong Kong’s most remarkable. And it’s one that Peak II Foundation believes more people should hear.
A Visit That Went Deeper Than Expected
On 11 October, a 20-member delegation led by Peak II Foundation visited the ICAC for a meeting and exchange session. What began as an educational outing quickly became something more — a window into the values that underpin the city our beneficiaries, volunteers, and partners all call home.
ICAC representatives welcomed the group with an overview of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption framework, walking through the three-pronged strategy that has made the Commission a global benchmark: investigation, prevention, and community education. It was the third pillar — education — that resonated most with our delegation, because it reflects a belief Peak II Foundation shares: that lasting change comes not from enforcement alone, but from building a culture where people understand why integrity matters and choose it for themselves.
The Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption added a global dimension, sharing insights into integrity management and anti-corruption best practices from around the world — a reminder that the values Hong Kong has built are not just locally significant, but internationally admired.
Café 1974 and the Exhibition Hall
The visit included a tour of the recently upgraded ICAC Exhibition Hall and the thematic “Café 1974” — named for the year the Commission was established. Through interactive displays, historical archives, and multimedia materials, our delegation experienced how the ICAC has evolved its public engagement from pamphlets and posters to immersive, technology-driven storytelling.
For our participants, many of whom work directly with grassroots communities, the exhibition offered a powerful reminder: the clean, orderly society that Hong Kong residents rely on did not happen by accident. It was built — deliberately, painstakingly, over decades — by people who believed that a fair society was worth fighting for.
That history matters. And sharing it with community members who may not otherwise visit the ICAC building is, in its own quiet way, an act of civic education.
Why a Charity Foundation Organises an ICAC Visit
This might seem like an unusual event for a foundation focused on empowering families, kids, and the elderly. But at Peak II Foundation, we see integrity education as a natural extension of our mission — not a departure from it.
When we talk about empowering individuals to shape their futures, we don’t mean only through skills training or financial support. We mean helping people understand the society they live in — its institutions, its values, and their own role in upholding them. A mother in Sham Shui Po who understands her rights. A young volunteer who grasps why transparency matters. An elderly resident who remembers what Hong Kong looked like before ICAC existed — and appreciates what has changed.
Education isn’t only about classrooms. It’s about understanding the world around you well enough to participate in it with confidence and integrity. That is what this visit was about.
At a Glance 👥 20-member delegation led by Peak II Foundation 🏛️ Meeting and exchange with ICAC representatives 🌐 Insights from the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption ☕ Tour of the upgraded ICAC Exhibition Hall and “Café 1974” 📚 Civic education as community empowerment
We extend our sincere appreciation to the ICAC for its decades of dedication to safeguarding Hong Kong’s reputation as a society built on fairness, transparency, and accountability. Peak II Foundation is grateful for the warm welcome and looks forward to organising more civic education experiences that broaden our community’s understanding of the institutions that serve them.
大多數香港市民都認得「ICAC」這四個字母，但真正了解廉政公署大樓內日常運作的人卻不多——調查如何進行、廉政公署為何於1974年成立，以及一個曾經飽受制度性貪污困擾的城市，如何在短短一代人之間蛻變為亞洲最廉潔的經濟體之一。
這段關於一個社會選擇誠信、並為之奮鬥的故事，是香港最令人矚目的成就之一。亦正因如此，崇嶺基金會深信，這是一個值得讓更多人聽見的故事。
一次超出預期的參觀
10月11日，由崇嶺基金會帶領的20人到訪廉政公署，進行交流及會面。原本只是一趟教育性參觀，最終卻成為一次更深層的體驗——讓大家得以一窺支撐這座城市的核心價值，而這正是我們的受惠者、義工及合作夥伴共同稱之為「家」的地方。
廉政公署代表向我們介紹了香港的反貪制度，並詳述使廉署成為全球典範的「三管齊下」策略：執法、預防及社區教育。當中最引起代表團共鳴的，是第三個支柱——教育。因為這正好反映了崇嶺基金會所認同的信念：真正持久的改變，不單靠執法，而是建立一種文化，讓市民明白誠信的重要，並自發地作出選擇。
香港國際廉政學院亦為交流注入國際視野，分享來自世界各地的誠信管理及反貪最佳實踐經驗，提醒我們：香港所建立的價值，不僅在本地具有意義，在國際間同樣備受推崇。
「1974咖啡廳」與展覽廳
我們亦參觀了剛完成優化的廉政公署展覽廳，以及以廉署成立年份命名的主題空間「1974咖啡廳」。透過互動展品、歷史檔案及多媒體內容，大家親身體驗廉署如何由早期的單張與海報，逐步演進至以科技與沉浸式敘事方式與公眾溝通。
對於不少長期服務基層社區的參加者而言，這次參觀是一個深刻的提醒：香港市民今日所依賴的廉潔、有序社會，並非理所當然，而是經過數十年有意識、持續而艱辛的努力所建立——由一群堅信公平社會值得守護的人，一步一步建構而成。
這段歷史十分重要。而將這些故事帶給未必有機會走進廉署大樓的社區人士，本身亦是一種安靜而深遠的公民教育。
為何一個慈善基金會會舉辦廉政公署參訪？
對於一個致力於支援家庭、小孩及長者的基金會而言，這樣的活動或許看似不尋常。但在崇嶺基金會，我們視誠信教育為使命的自然延伸，而非偏離初衷。
當我們談到賦權個人、讓他們塑造自己的未來，我們指的不僅是技能培訓或經濟支援，更是幫助大家理解自己所身處的社會——它的制度、價值，以及每一個人在其中所扮演的角色。一位了解自身權利的深水埗母親；一位明白透明度重要性的年輕義工；一位仍記得「沒有廉署的香港」的長者，並由衷珍惜今日的轉變。
教育不只存在於課室之中。它關乎是否足夠了解身邊的世界，從而能夠自信而有誠信地參與其中。這，正是這次參訪的意義所在。
