Twenty years ago , corruption was rife in Hong Kong , experts say . Now it 's considered one of the least corrupt territories in the world . China , however , rates poorly on the Index by Transparency International . The traditional giving of cash-filled red envelopes during festivals and special occasions has expanded to encompass paying officials for favors , a practice denounced recently by mainland Chinese state media . It 's in 80th place on the Global Perceptions Index , near Serbia and Trinidad and Tobago .
Twenty years ago , corruption was rife in Hong Kong , experts say . Now it 's considered one of the least corrupt territories in the world . China , however , rates poorly on the Index by Transparency International . It 's in 80th place on the Global Perceptions Index , near Serbia and Trinidad and Tobago .