Hong Kong – Indonesia is seen as the most corrupt country in Asia for the third year running, followed by India and Vietnam, a survey of foreign businessmen showed on Tuesday.

Singapore was seen as the least corrupt among 12 countries and territories in the region, the study by Hong Kong-based Political & Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd says.

Perceptions of corruption improved in eight of the 12 Asian areas covered last year, the survey report said.

"Some of the biggest improvements have been registered in countries like China and Thailand, which have long had particularly poor reputations," the report said.

Perceptions in the three worst rated countries for corruption – Vietnam, India and Indonesia – were slightly better this year than last, it said.

The latest survey polled more than 1,000 expatriate businessmen working in Asia in Janaury and February. They were asked to provide ratings on a scale from zero to 10, with the latter being the most corrupt.

Bangladesh, which has been rated the world's most corrupt country for three years in a row by Transparency International, was not included in the survey.

Perceived corruption in Asia in 2004 (on a scale of zero to 10)