Trust is an indispensable element in the relationship between an architect and his clients. As members of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, we are rightly bound by the "Code of Professional Conduct" which proscribes any activities that are connected with accepting benefits other than those approved by our clients or employers. There is zero tolerance for corruption of whatever form or scale, and we know very well that the consequences of accepting bribes can be extremely serious.

We architects routinely find ourselves not only in the position of practitioners of an applied art, but also engaged as agents of our clients and arbitrators of building contracts often worth huge sums of money. Unfortunately, the highly lucrative rewards for inappropriate behaviour and breach of integrity are seductive, so much so that great determination and moral conviction are needed to resist such inordinate temptations. Personally I remember the times when corruption was a household word and how it eroded the very roots of our society across a wide spectrum of government and business activities. Had such insalubrious practice been allowed to continue, Hong Kong would have remained in backwaters even to this day, and we would all have suffered immensely in the process. Fortunately, the darker side of that era has gone, hopefully forever, and the ICAC has, since its foundation, served our community with exemplary dedication and effectiveness.

While we do not need the spectre of downfall to remind us of the law and its severity in meting out punishment for corruption related offences, it is nevertheless sensible to be constantly vigilant towards any potential pitfalls that may cause us irreversible damage: hence our invitation to the ICAC to share their expertise. You will find the e-learning packages offered here friendly to use, not designed to scare or intimidate, but to guide us through the complexity of business dealings that are part of our everyday life. Please enjoy working through these packages, and inform the HKIA of your thoughts on their usefulness and applicability to you, as an architect of unquestioned integrity. The ICAC will no doubt be equally interested in your feedback.

John PL Wong
President, HKIA