Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Decision-making: Mainland China and Hong Kong Comparisons

The chapter examine the measures taken to reduce conflicts of interest and enhance ethical decision-making through value-based integrity management programmes. Conflicts of interest represent a particular form of ethical dilemma in which personal interests could actually or potentially bias the outcome of a decision. Concern over conflicts of interest has been growing in both mainland China and in Hong Kong over the past two decades. The Chinese government is confronted with mounting challenges in dealing with the proliferation of corruption. In Hong Kong, there are long-established regulations in place to ensure that recruitment to the civil service is by merit, defined as the best person for the position. In mainland China, conflicts of interest in the post-retirement arrangements of government officials did not receive much attention until 2010 when The Code of Ethical Conduct of Leading Cadres was adopted. Distance and separation between public and social activity has been achieved, with corresponding benefits to the integrity of the organization.