Dr Ming Tak Kalwan Kwan, Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), delivered a presentation sharing Hong Kong’s experience in prison management at the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 1 October 2026. He joined the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) delegation at the Congress, where ICAC and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly launched Integrity Behind Bars: A Guide on Corruption Risk Management in Prison Systems.

The Guide was co-launched by Mr Woo Ying-ming, ICAC Commissioner and President of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), and Ms Monica Juma, Executive Director of UNODC. Developed with international expert input, the publication provides practical guidance to help prison authorities identify corruption risks and strengthen integrity in prison governance. It covers staff recruitment and training, procurement and financial controls, reporting mechanisms, oversight and inspections, prison intelligence, and the use of technology.

During the preparation of the Guide, Dr Kwan and Dr Peng Wang, both from HKU’s Department of Sociology, were invited to contribute their expertise alongside 16 other international experts. Through exchanges of research findings, professional knowledge and experiences across different jurisdictions, they contributed to the development of practical guidance on preventing corruption in prison systems.

At the Congress, Dr Kwan shared Hong Kong’s experience in prison management, while ICAC Principal Investigator Ms Bonnie Wong Kar-man discussed law enforcement experiences in combating prison corruption. Their contributions brought perspectives on prison governance and anti-corruption enforcement to the international discussion.

The participation of Dr Kwan and Dr Wang in the Guide’s development highlights the Department of Sociology’s engagement with international organisations and practitioners on prison governance and anti-corruption. It also illustrates how academic knowledge and professional expertise can contribute to the development of guidance for addressing challenges in correctional institutions.